Lewis W. Hine: Cotton ("She jess works fer pleasure")

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6-year old Warren Frakes. Mother said he picked 41 pounds yesterday "An I don't make him pick; he picked some last year." Has about 20 pounds in his bag. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 11 October 1916



Family of W.T. Frakes, Route 5, Lawton, Oklahoma. Mother said 6-year old Warren picked 41 pounds of cotton yesterday "An I don't make him pick; he picked last year." Had about 20 pounds in his bag. She said Clara, 11 years old, averages 75 pounds a day. Picked 101 pounds yesterday, earning $1.25 (they are picking now for another farmer). She carries 40 pounds in the bag. Velma, 14 years, picks 125 pounds. Has picked over 200 pounds in a day. Children go to Flower Mound School, District 48 while living here, but they are itinerant, renting a small farm of 10 acres now. "We move about a good deal" mother said. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 11 October 1916



Family of L.H. Kirkpatrick, Route 1, Lawton, Okla. Children go to Mineral Wells School #39. Father, mother and five children (5, 6, 10, 11 and 12 years old) pick cotton. "We pick a bale in four days." Dovey, 5 years old, picks 15 pounds a day (average). Mother said: "She jess works fer pleasure." Ertle, 6 years, picks 20 pounds a day (average). Vonnie, 10 years, picks 50 pounds a day (average). Edward, 11 years, picks 75 pounds a day (average). Otis, 12 years, picks 75 pounds a day (average). Expect to be out of school for two weeks more picking. Father is a renter. Works part of farm on shares (gives 1/4 of cotton for rent) and for part of farm he pays cash rent. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916



Mart Payne, 5 years old, picks from10 to 20 pounds a day. Mother said: "Mart, he haint old nuff to go to school much, but he kin pick his 20 pounds a day. Mostly 10 or 15 pounds". Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916



Norma Lawrence is 10 years old and picks from 100 to 150 pounds of cotton a day. Drags the sack which often holds 50 pounds or more before emptied. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916.



Callie Campbell, 11 years old, picks 75 to 125 pounds of cotton a day, and totes 50 pounds of it when sack gets full. "No, I don't like it very much." Potawatomie County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 16 October 1916.



Acme School #24 (4 miles northwest of Shawnee): Miss Lois Millard, Principal. (P.O. Dale, Oklahoma, Route 1). 26 present, 40 expected after all families return from southern part of the state where they have been picking cotton. Potawotamie County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 16 October 1916



Pioneer School #13 (6 miles northwest of Shawnee) opened October 2nd--7 months term. Miss Lela Ginsinger, Principal (been here 2 years). Photo shows only 6 children present and 2 teachers in the third week of school. Expect 24 pupils. All absences are due to cotton. A few of the larger ones will be out in the Spring for cotton. Potawotamie County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 16 October 1916



Hillside School #58; Miss Blanche Calyer, Teacher. Opened September 11th--8 months term. Enrollment 20, Average attendance 18 (last year: enrollment 43, average attendance 36). 15 others are out for cotton picking and may be out a month more. Teacher says families are mostly tenants, but she thinks they need help of children during cotton picking season. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916



Family of C.J. Walker, Route 2, Box 78, Geronimo, Oklahoma. 6-year old Jewel and 5-year old Harold picks 20 to 25 pounds of cotton a day. Father said: "I promised em a little wagon if they'd pick steady, and now they have half a bagful in just a little while." The 3-year old is learning to pick. Father is a renter on shares: gives 1/4 of his cotton for rent, and 1/3 of his corn. Has 20 acres in cotton. Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916



5-year old Harold Walker, Geronimo, Comanche County, Oklahoma: photo by Lewis W. Hine, 10 October 1916

Photos from National Child Labor Committee Collection, Library of Congress