![[Whistle blows noon Opelika Cotton Mill. Smallest girl in photograph is Velma Smith a tiny little spinner with a steady job all day. I found her at home crying bitterly because her father refused to let her have any money out of the pay envelope she brought home. Mother said: "That haint no way to encourage children to work." Mother, father and several children work. Her mother admitted she worked here before 12 years old, and at Ella White Mill and one other city for about a year. Says they have no family record, but claims Velma is 12 now (which is doubtful). I saw her several times going and coming at 5:45 A.M. and noon.] Location: [Opelika, Alabama]](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn4/L3Bob3RvLzE5MTQvMDEvMDEvd2hpc3RsZS1ibG93cy1ub29uLW9wZWxpa2EtY290dG9uLW1pbGwtc21hbGxlc3QtZ2lybC1pbi1waG90b2dyYXBoLWlzLXZlbG1hLTEwMjQuanBn/320/454/jpg "[Whistle blows noon Opelika Cotton Mill. Smallest girl in photograph is Velma Smith a tiny little spinner with a steady job all day. I found her at home crying bitterly because her father refused to let her have any money out of the pay envelope she brought home. Mother said: \"That haint no way to encourage children to work.\" Mother, father and several children work. Her mother admitted she worked here before 12 years old, and at Ella White Mill and one other city for about a year. Says they have no family record, but claims Velma is 12 now (which is doubtful). I saw her several times going and coming at 5:45 A.M. and noon.] Location: [Opelika, Alabama]")
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![[Whistle blows noon Opelika Cotton Mill. Smallest girl in photograph is Velma Smith a tiny little spinner with a steady job all day. I found her at home crying bitterly because her father refused to let her have any money out of the pay envelope she brought home. Mother said: "That haint no way to encourage children to work." Mother, father and several children work. Her mother admitted she worked here before 12 years old, and at Ella White Mill and one other city for about a year. Says they have no family record, but claims Velma is 12 now (which is doubtful). I saw her several times going and coming at 5:45 A.M. and noon.] Location: [Opelika, Alabama]](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn4/L3Bob3RvLzE5MTQvMDEvMDEvd2hpc3RsZS1ibG93cy1ub29uLW9wZWxpa2EtY290dG9uLW1pbGwtc21hbGxlc3QtZ2lybC1pbi1waG90b2dyYXBoLWlzLXZlbG1hLTEtNjQwLmpwZw%3D%3D/40/56/webp "[Whistle blows noon Opelika Cotton Mill. Smallest girl in photograph is Velma Smith a tiny little spinner with a steady job all day. I found her at home crying bitterly because her father refused to let her have any money out of the pay envelope she brought home. Mother said: \"That haint no way to encourage children to work.\" Mother, father and several children work. Her mother admitted she worked here before 12 years old, and at Ella White Mill and one other city for about a year. Says they have no family record, but claims Velma is 12 now (which is doubtful). I saw her several times going and coming at 5:45 A.M. and noon.] Location: [Opelika, Alabama]")
[Whistle blows noon Opelika Cotton Mill. Smallest girl in photograph is Velma Smith a tiny little spinner with a steady job all day. I found her at home crying bitterly because her father refused to let her have any money out of the pay envelope she brought home. Mother said: "That haint no way to encourage children to work." Mother, father and several children work. Her mother admitted she worked here before 12 years old, and at Ella White Mill and one other city for about a year. Says they have no family record, but claims Velma is 12 now (which is doubtful). I saw her several times going and coming at 5:45 A.M. and noon.] Location: [Opelika, Alabama]
Summary
Picryl description: Public domain image of child labor, exploitation, children workers, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Tags
Date
01/01/1914
Contributors
Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer
Location
Opelika (Ala.), 32.64528, -85.37833
Source
Library of Congress
Copyright info
No known restrictions on publication.
