Child Labor in North Carolina Cotton Mills

Golla Chambers, 12 years old, been in mill 3 years, spinning 2 years, weave 1 year. Other sisters spinners. Gastonia, N.C. , 11/07/1908

Lacy (12 years old) and Savannah ( 11 years old) Ballard. Have worked two years. Father said, "the little one is a cracker-jack on spinnin', at least so the boss says. She ain't satisfied unless in the mill. The oldest one isn't so good at it. Not as quick." (Note the tense, serious look on the younger. Older more like a real girl.) Gastonia, N.C. , 11/07/1908

Girls running warping machines in Loray Mill, Gastonia, N.C. Many boys and girls much younger. Boss carefully avoided them, and when I tried to get a photo which would include a mite of a boy working at a machine, he was quickly swept out of range. "He isn't working here, just came in to help a little." Gastonia, N.C. , 11/07/1908

Boy from Loray Mill. "Been at it right smart two years." Gastonia, N.C. , 11/08/1908

Rhodes Mfg. Co. Spinner. A moments glimpse of the outer world. Said she was 11 years old. Been working over a year. Lincolnton, N.C. , 11/11/1908

Loray Mill, Gastonia, N.C. Boy with coat in hand is 11 years old. Been there 9 months. Started at 50 [cents] a day, now gets 60 [cents]. "When I sweeps double space I get 90 [cents] a day, but it makes you work." Look at the boy. Two infants appeared at the door and vanished back immediately on seeing me. Gastonia, N.C. , 11/07/1908

Doffers in Cherryville Mfg. Co., N.C. Plenty of others. Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1909

One of the doffers in Vivian Cotton Mills. Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1908

Noon hour at the Vivian Cotton Mills. Shows the character of the "hands" in a better class mill, --well ventilated and lighted. Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1908

Spinner in Vivian Cotton Mills. Been at it 2 years. Where will her good looks be in 10 years? Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1908

A doffer in Lincolnton Mill. Lincolnton, N.C , 11/11/1908

A few of the workers in Cherryville Mfg. Co. Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1908

Ivey Mill. Little one, 3 years old, who visits and plays in the mill. Daughter of the overseer. Hickory, N.C. , 11/12/1908

Some of the sweepers in a cotton mill. North Carolina. , 11/1908

Cherryville Graded School. These are the children in the town who attend school. 2,000 population. One-third of these raised their hands when asked, "How many have worked in a cotton mill?" Cherryville, N.C. , 11/10/1908

View of the Scotland Mills. All these boys work in mill. Laurinburg, N.C. , 12/06/1908

Group of mill folks. All ages. Salisbury Cotton Mills. Salisbury, N.C. , 12/20/1908

A doffer boy. Salisbury, N.C. , 12/1908

Lunch time, Kelser Mfg. Co. The little one carries the lunch. Usually the hands all go home to dinner. Salisbury, N.C. , 12/19/1908

Flashlight photo of children on night shift going to work at 6 P.M. on a cold, dark December day , 12/1908

Children on night shift at work

Some of the doffers and the Supt. Ten small boys and girls about this size out of a force of 40 employees. Catawba Cotton Mill. Newton, N.C. , 12/21/1908

Two of the young spinners in Catawba Cotton Mills. Newton, N.C. , 12/21/1908

Boy at warping machine in Newton Cotton Mill. Been there 2 years. Newton, N.C. , 12/21/1908

This shows the number of small children on the day shift (50 employees in all). Nearly as many small ones on night shift. This is a new up to date mill. Whitnel Mfg. Co. Whitnel, N.C. , 12/22/1908

One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. Runs 4 sides - 48 [cents] a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same." Out of 50 employees, ten children about her size. Whitnel, N.C. , 12/22/1908