Farming and School Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916

Lewis Wickes Hine (September 26, 1874 – November 3, 1940) was an American sociologist and photographer. Hine used his camera as a tool for social reform. His photographs were instrumental in changing the child labor laws in the United States. He visited Kentucky in 1916 and took many photographs of early schools and children working instead of attending school. Below are some of his remarkable photographs depicting the lives of children in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916. The comments are from Lewis Wickes Hine.

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916
1916

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916
1916

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916

 The Lowe sons are spiking tobacco on Lowe farm in the next two photographs. Roland 13 and Bush 14 years old will go to Pretty Run School in a week or two, when tobacco is all in. It is a school day and school began 2 months ago. Boys say they have been in school some this year. Location: Clark County–Winchester[vicinity], Kentucky / Lewis W. Hine. 1916
1916

The Lowe sons are spiking tobacco on Lowe farm in the next two photographs. Roland 13 and Bush 14 years old will go to Pretty Run School in a week or two, when tobacco is all in. It is a school day and school began 2 months ago. Boys say they have been in school some this year. Location: Clark County–Winchester[vicinity], Kentucky / Lewis W. Hine. 1916

 Suckering tobacco on Lowe farm. Lewis W. Hine 1916
1916

Suckering tobacco on Lowe farm. Lewis W. Hine 1916

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916
1916

Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916

Topping tobacco. Roland Lowe, 13 years old in field with two brothers. There are 7 boys and 2 girls in the family, and 4 are in school. Father, Mose Lowe, R. Route 1, Winchester. Children go to Pretty Run School, Division 2, Clark Co., Ky., but Roland and Bush, 14 years old have not started yet–about 3 weeks after it opened. Father rents this farm of 160 acres. Location: Clark Co.–Winchester, Kentucky / Lewis W. Hine. 1916
1916

Topping tobacco. Roland Lowe, 13 years old in field with two brothers. There are 7 boys and 2 girls in the family, and 4 are in school. Father, Mose Lowe, R. Route 1, Winchester. Children go to Pretty Run School, Division 2, Clark Co., Ky., but Roland and Bush, 14 years old have not started yet–about 3 weeks after it opened. Father rents this farm of 160 acres. Location: Clark Co.–Winchester, Kentucky / Lewis W. Hine. 1916

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Farming and School Life in Clark County, Kentucky in 1916