Hine, Lewis Wickes,, 1874-1940,, photographer.
Pin boys in Les Miserables Alleys, Frank Jarose, 7 Fayette St., Mellens Court, said 11 years old, made $3.72 last week. Joseph Philip, 5 Wall St., said 11 years old, and works until midnight every week night; said he made $2.25 last week and $1.75 the week before. Willie Payton, 196 Fayette St., said 11 years old, made over $2 last week, works there every night until midnight. Location: Lowell, Massachusetts.
1911 October.
1 photographic print.
Notes:
Title from NCLC caption card.
Attribution to Hine based on provenance.
In album: Miscellaneous.
Hine no. 2603.
Subjects:
Pin boys.
Bowling alleys.
United States--Massachusetts--Lowell.
Format: Photographic prints.
Glass negatives.
Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Part Of: Photographs from the records of the National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) 2004667950
General information about the Lewis Hine child labor photos is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.nclc
Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/nclc.04768
Call Number: LOT 7483, v. 2, no. 2603
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View 4 more comments
valrico.runner 9 months ago | reply
The value of 1911 dollars puts their earnings in perspective. These young gents really look happy in this photograph!
jack byrnes hill (over 1 million views) 9 months ago | reply
In the late 40s and early 50s, I worked as a pin boy at the local bowling alley in a small town in Maine and can tell you I loved it. Certainly we didn't feel abused or taken advantage of. Pin setting was a kids job and there was a long line waiting to get our job when we moved on to high school and sports. i worked two nights a week till the bowling alley closed for the night (don't remember what time that was). Did me a world of good. (I learned how to dodge flying pins--you couldn't goof around while working....you had to pay attention.)
Mouserola! 9 months ago | reply
A dangerous job. When I was a kid, there still were human pin setters, though not very many as mechanization was more common by then. articles.orlandosentinel.com/1999-11-20/news/9911190336_1...
news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19410923&...
fraew 9 months ago | reply
According to US CPI measures for CPI in 1911, $3.72 is around $91 in 2012 money. www.measuringworth.com/uscpi/