Southern Cotton Textiles
Interior of Magnolia Cotton Mills spinning room. See the little
ones scattered through the mill.
All work. Magnolia, Miss., 05/03/1911
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1494
A little spinner in the Globe Cotton Mill. The overseer admitted
she was regularly employed there. Augusta, GA., 01/15/1909
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-490
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, NC., 11/07/1908
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-245
Dofffers in Cherryville Mfg. Co., NC. Plenty of others. Cherryville,
NC., 11/10/1909
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-263
Ivey Mill. Little one, 3 years old, who visits and plays in the
mill. Daughter of the overseer. Hickory, NC., 11/ 12/ 1908
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-301
Boy at warping machine in Newton Cotton Mill. Been there 2 years.
Newton, NC., 12/21/1908
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-450
Bibb Mill No.1, Macon, GA., Many youngsters here.
Some boys and girls were so small they had to climb up on the spinning
frame to
mend broken threads and to put back the empty bobbins.
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-488
Two of the tiny workers, a raveler and a looper in London Hosiery Mills.
London, Tenn., 12/10/1910
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1886
Street Bretzau, who is a “tube boy” in mule room. Mule is apparently
more dangerous than ring spinning.
(See bandaged finger.) Photo during working hours. Chattanooga,
Tenn., 12/06/1910.
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-1851
Spinner in Lancaster Cotton mills. Lancaster, SC 12/01/1908
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-344
Girls running warping machines in Loray Mills, Gastonia NC., 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,
NC., 11/07/1908
NAIL Control Number : NWDNS-102-LH-246