From the Lewis Wickes Hine Archives, a Rare Photo of Dallas Children at Play

By Robert Wilonsky Fri., Apr. 30 2010 at 11:54 AM

Categories: Today's History Lesson

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Lewis Wickes Hine

The cutline, written by Hine himself: "Group of children in the kindergarten school composed of the cotton mill people. Even during the play the mill is ever in the background. Dallas Cotton Mill. Location: Dallas, Texas."

Ever since we mentioned that Massachusetts historian Joe Manning has been tracking down the Dallas newsies and other child laborers captured by Lewis Wickes Hine in Dallas in October 1913, several Friends of Unfair Park and other passersby have mentioned that, sure enough, that's their mother-in-law's uncle or so-and-so's second cousin or his and her great-grandmother. And Manning's still at it: Just this morning he sent word that he tracked down the obit for 6-year-old newsie Collins Odell McDuffey, who died at 81 after retiring as a tire dealer. Not only that: Manning found his stepson. The man's a dogged detective. Amazing.

The historian has also located in the Library of Congress vaults Hine's Texas file, which hasn't been published. Yet.

As always, click to embiggen the picture. It should be a book cover. One of my favorites from the estimable and invaluable Hine collection.

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Hine did NOT take pictures so that some future observer would look back and see the good old days. Hine's work was political, made under the auspices of the National Child Labor Committee, and was intended to be used (as it was) to agitate for the end of child labor. Hine made this particular picture in juxtaposition to ones he made of children engaged in the work of adults. He often did this to show how children should be nurtured and educated rather than exploited and discarded. I am currently working on a book examining Hine as an advocate for the end of child labor, including Texas. As a shameless bit of self-promotion, perhaps you would like to read my <I>Lewis Hine as Social Critic</i> (Univ. of Mississippi, 2009). These arguments and explanations are in there. Historical context is everything. See a review here: http://blog.al.com/entertainment-press-register/2010/02/book_review_lewis_hine_as_soci.html I would like very much to correspond with anyone who is doing local research on Lewis Hine. I find it gratifying that so many are so moved his images. Best, Kate Sampsell-Willmann kswillmann@gmail.com
I feel like I should know this but: where was the cotton mill?
Hey Bill - stifle it. Nobody was pining for the "good old days" in reference to any of these pictures, not that I saw at least. However, one SHOULD have some perspective of how well we have it in this "horrid" age of discrimination and bias and inequity that your ilk seem to love to bash at every turn. Look at those pictures, then appreciate what you have, and how you got it, and gain som perspective.
Bill, when I first began posting these pictures a few weeks ago, I was very clear why they were taken. http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/04/from_time_to_time_over.php Each subsequent item has linked back to that original, which is why I have not explained their origins. I appreciate you doing so; context, of course, is everything. That said, this is the first picture I've seen from Hine's visit to Dallas in 1913 that features a cavalcade of smiles.
to the person who signs himself or herself as warden62: My point wasn't that his progressive aims in any way negate Hine's accomplishment, but rather that a reading of any art work without a knowledge of the artist's aims can lead to distortion. Hines was not hoping that folks would view his images as records of the good old days.
This is from the LOC's reference librarian: "There are two documents in the Texas files. The first is 13 pages of typed field notes surveying conditions of numerous different industrial areas. Names of interviewees appear in the report, but generally little biographical information is included. The second is a 3 page report on hosiery mills in Dallas."
so when you say he found Hines Texas file does that mean the notes Hines made while taking the photos? this particular image shows up all the time on ebay for sale as a reproduction
Um, okay. Bill, your recollection of Hine's objectives only make me more moony-eyed and nostalgic.
Before we get all moony-eyed and nostalgic about these images, it might be useful to recall that Hine's aim as a photographer was social documentation and reformation. He was out to drive a stake through the heart of poverty, child labor, exploitation. Kind of a progressive, you might say. The "L" word -- liberal.
Where the wild things are.
would it be OK if I imagine that teacher with auburn hair and blue eyes? Ok - thanks
Reminds me so much of the City Council. They're even standing in a modified horse shoe shaped line.
Thank you for using embiggen in a sentence. A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man!