Figure 1.-- This photograph was taken in 1912 and throws some light on the labor practices of 1912 in the New York City garmet distruct. The families took unfinished hose supporters home from the factory in large cloth bags, finished them (notice the large basket for the completed garters on the floor) and then returned them to the factory when the work was done the next morning.

This photograph was taken in 1912 and throws some light on the labor practices of 1912 in New York City. The Jewish father was out of work, so he enlisted his whole family (wife and children) as well as neighbor children in helping to make children's pin-on hose supporters--an item that nearly every child, male and female, wore in 1912 up to at least age 14 since long stockings for children at that time were virtually universal. The popular color for supporters was black because of their not showing soil, although supporters could also be bought in white. We don't know the name of the family, but we do have a few details about their work habits. The younger children worked several nights a week until 9 PM (their bedtime)--those ten or younger--while the older children stayed up until 11 PM working on the garters. This was take-home work from a local business (perhaps Stein?) that manufactured the supporters and advertised them very widely in newspapers and magazines. The families took unfinished hose supporters home from the factory in large cloth bags, finished them (notice the large basket for the completed garters on the floor) and then returned them to the factory when the work was done the next morning. Several children are involved. On the extreme left we have Mary, aged 7, and next to her, Sam, aged 10. Sitting next to mother is a 12-year-old boy, whose name is not known. On the other side of father is a 13-year old boy, just old enough to be starting high-school. The children seem to have worked at night after school. Notice the girl's large hairbow, the and the girl's sailor suit. Also notice the older boy's dark flat cap which seems to have been worn indoors according to Jewish custom. Non-Jewish mothers wold not have allowed this at the time. But father issn't wearing any time of headgear or the two younger boys, so we are a little unsure about the family's religiosity. This photo was taken in the garment district of New York City, where many Jewish families (some of them recent immigrants) lived before World War II.

Created: 6:17 AM 9/29/2008
Last updated: 5:38 PM 9/29/2008