Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
14. My father born in 1916 quit school in the 8th grade to help on the family farm. You are right that
Tue May 22, 2012, 11:12 PM
May 2012

was not uncommon. The pictures are very sad. I suspect some of the children had to work in order to support the family like the pic of the widow. One very good reason to be thankful for our safety net.

In the 50s there was still child labor - I held my first job at the age of 10 (working for a construction company and cleaning houses for a neighbor) and worked summers as a maid at the age of 12 until I was 16. Much of my money went to help support the family. For me the worst part was being on my own with little supervision at that early age.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I was just reading a novel about child labor. BlueIris May 2012 #1
what is the novel? n/t grasswire May 2012 #9
January 1905, by Katharine Boling. BlueIris May 2012 #15
thanks grasswire May 2012 #20
Very moving pics tawadi May 2012 #2
Bastards fought TOOTH and NAIL against reforms then too... annabanana May 2012 #3
There's Shorpy! Kolesar May 2012 #4
the eyes of old men. spanone May 2012 #5
Most are very disturbing indeed. intheflow May 2012 #6
My father born in 1916 quit school in the 8th grade to help on the family farm. You are right that jwirr May 2012 #14
Having a paper route meant delivering papers along a set route Art_from_Ark May 2012 #18
Thanks, Art. intheflow May 2012 #24
kick Liberal_in_LA May 2012 #7
My dad finished the fifth grade and worked his way West picking cotton in 1906 until he Cleita May 2012 #8
Yes, my dad was also very proud that he could see my sister and I graduate. When I was working in jwirr May 2012 #16
It hit me when looking at these photos XemaSab May 2012 #19
K&R WorseBeforeBetter May 2012 #10
k&r n/t RainDog May 2012 #11
Same time frame as Jack London's People of the Abyss marginlized May 2012 #12
K&R patrice May 2012 #13
K&R Great post. For kids everywhere I thank you think May 2012 #17
That's the answer! Get rid of immigrant labor and replace it with child labor. Kablooie May 2012 #21
What a silly thing to say when unemployment is above 8% and *real* unemployment closer to 15%. HiPointDem May 2012 #22
I've been reading about Lowell, Massachusetts recently. It was built as a planned manufacturing HiPointDem May 2012 #23
Interesting and thanks for posting. Cleita May 2012 #25
K & R Scurrilous May 2012 #26
to go www.Shorpy.com... Javaman May 2012 #27
Don't forget people, The smartest man in the room Newtered Gingrich CAMPAIGNED on rustydog May 2012 #28
One of many tragic facets of "self-regulation" studiously forgotten by Republicans. DirkGently May 2012 #29
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The haunting photographs ...»Reply #14