Figure 1.--All we know about this image is tht it was taken in Birmingham, Alabama. It is undated, but we would guess was taken about 1905-10. The boy are probably messengers waiting outside these businesses. They look to be teenagers, all still wearing knickers. Notice the boys are smoking.

The available images of working children provide a idea as to how lower income children dressed. Many HBC images are portraits taken after the children had been dressed up. These images of working children provide a better idea of how many children normally dressed. Here there are great differences as to where the children worked. Children working in mines and factories were more likely to wear work clothes. Children working as paper boys or delivery boys were more likely to wear their normal clothes. The time frame here is limited, mosly coming from the very late 19th and early 20th century. This was because improvements in film and cameras made such photographs easier to take at the same time that the public became increasingly concerned about the issue. Child labor became one of the primary issues persued by the progressive movement. State and Federal legislation by the time of the Wilson administration (1913-21) began to put an end to the most egregious exploitation of cildren. Because of the time frame many of the boys wear kneepants or knickers with long stockings. Boys in mines and factories were more likely to wear overalls and other work clothes.

Created: 4:00 PM 7/26/2005
Last updated: 4:00 PM 7/26/2005