Collection Summary
National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) Records
1904-1953
1904-1934
1904-1953
1904-1934
MSS34173
National Child Labor Committee, U.S.
7,000 items
66 containers plus 1 oversize
36.4 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Correspondence, official records, reports,
speeches, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks containing form letters, press
releases, and newspaper clippings relating to the committee. Includes reports on child
labor conditions in various industries and minute books and proceedings of annual
meetings and national conferences.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC
Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and
by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
McKelway, Alexander Jeffrey, 1866-1918--Correspondence.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945--Correspondence.
Organizations
National Child Labor Committee (U.S.)
National Committee on Federal Aid to Education. National Committee on Federal
Aid to Education records.
Subjects
Child labor--Southern States.
Child labor--United States.
Education--United States--Finance.
Federal aid to education--United States.
Places
United States--Social conditions--20th century.
Acquisition Information
The records of the National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) were received by the Library
of Congress in two groups. In 1932, Lavinia Rutherford Smith McKelway (Mrs. Alexander
McKelway) made a deposit that was converted to gift in 1947. A larger group of material
was given by Gertrude Folks Zimand in 1954.
Processing History
The records of National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) were housed and described in 1956.
The finding aid was revised in 2012 by Jeffery Bryson. The finding aid was updated in
2023 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive
Description Working Group.
Additional Guides
A press release on the records was issued by the Library of Congress on Apr. 25, 1955. A
note on the collection appeared in the Library's
Information Bulletin
(Mar. 28, 1955); and the material was described in the
Library of Congress Quarterly Journal of Current Acquisitions
12, no. 3 (May 1955).
Transfers
Photographs have been transferred to the Library's Prints and Photographs Division where
they are identified as part of these records.
Related Material
Related collections in the Manuscript Division include the papers of [Alexander Jeffrey McKelway]
.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of the records of the National Child
Labor Committee (U.S.) is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) are open to research. Researchers
are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections
are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research
use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) Records, Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Organizational History
Date
Event
1904
National Child Labor Committee organized at a mass meeting at Carnegie Hall,
New York, N.Y.
1907
Organization chartered by act of Congress
1908
Hired photographer Lewis Wickes Hine to document child labor
conditions
1912
Establishment of a Children's Bureau in U.S. Department of Commerce and the
U.S. Department of Labor
1910
1920
Published and disseminated the photographs of Lewis Hine in support of state
and federal legislation to ban most forms of child labor and promote compulsory
education in all states
1938
Passage by Congress of the Fair Labor Standards Act
1964
Passage by Congress of the Manpower Development and Training Act, the Economic
Opportunity Act, and the Vocational Education Act
1975
Published “Rite of Passage: Youth's Transition from School to Work,” relating
to youth work issues, and “Promises to Keep,” on the education of migrant children
and outreach to their parents and families
1979
Contributed to the founding of the National Youth Employment Coalition
1985
Initiated the Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth
1991
Created the KAPOW program partnering elementary schools with businesses to
teach young children about work
Scope and Content Note
The records of the National Child Labor Committee (U.S.) span the years 1904-1953, with
the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1904-1934. The collection consists
of reports, speeches, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks containing form
letters, press releases, and newspaper clippings. Included are reports on child labor
conditions in various industries and minute books of meetings of the National Child
Labor Committee (U.S.) and the National Committee on Federal Aid to Education. Also in
the collection are a file of general correspondence of Alexander J. McKelway, secretary
for the Southern States of the National Child Labor Committee; and two letters from
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Arrangement of the Records
This collection is arranged in five series:
-
[ Correspondence, Speeches,
and Related Material, 1905-1943 ](corresmat)
-
[ Reports of Investigation,
1904-1937 ](reports)
-
[ Minutes, 1904-1945 ](minute)
-
[ Proceedings of Annual
Meetings and National Conferences of the National Child Labor Committee, 1905-1929
](meetconfer)
-
[ Scrapbooks and Printed
Matter, 1907-1953 ](scrap)
Container List
Container
Contents
1-1A
Correspondence, Speeches, and
Related Material, 1905-1943
1905-1943
Correspondence, speeches, pamphlets, other printed matter, and miscellaneous
material concerning child labor conditions and the child labor amendment.
Unsorted.
1
Alexander J. McKelway File, 1905-1912,
undated
1905-1912, undated
(2 folders)
1
1916, Mar. 27, Statement, Alexander J. McKelway,
before Interstate Commerce Commission
1
1916, “Child Labor Programs and Projects,”
pamphlet
1
1931, (?) Fuller, Raymond G., Speech, Child
Labor
1
1917, Apr. 17, Payson Smith to Massachusetts
Board of Education (Copy)
1
1915, May 11, Oral Testimony, Alexander J.
McKelway
(3 folders)
1
1934, Jan. 27, and Nov. 8, Franklin .D.
Roosevelt to Courtenay Dinwiddie, General Secretary, NCLC
1
1911, Roosevelt, Theodore, two addresses at
Birmingham, Ala., “The Conservation of Childhood”
1
1938, Sept. 4, “Democracy in Danger,” Nicholas
Murray Butler, Printed Address
1
1943, Sept. 30, “International Trans-Ocean Air
Transport and the Domestic Airlines, Pamphlet, W. A. Patterson
1
1909, Jan. 24, Boynton, M. P., Sermon on Child
Labor, Chicago, Ill.
1
1918, Dec. 17 , State Public Welfare Conference,
Oklahoma City, Okla.
1
Child Labor Amendment Conferences, Organization
Associated for Ratification
(6 folders)
1
“Shall Charitable Societies Relieve Family
Distress”
1A
Governors’ Messages Relative to the Child Labor
Amendment
(3 folders)
1A
Maryland Canneries
1A
1906
1906
1A
1909
1909
1A
Massachusetts, 1911, Cranberries
1A
Maine, Sardine Canneries, 1911
1911
1A
South, Oyster Industry, 1911
1911
1A
Maine, Sardine Cannery, 1911
1911
1A
Cranberries
1A
Wisconsin, 1915, Sugar Beets
1A
Georgia, Canning, 1915
1915
1A
Colorado, Wisconsin, Beets, 1915
1915
1A
Mississippi, Canneries, 1916
1916
1A
Colorado, 1916, Sugar Beets
1A
Missouri, 1916, Agriculture
1A
Connecticut, 1917, Tobacco
2-5
Reports of Investigation, 1904-1937
1904-1937
Reports on investigations of child labor conditions in various states and
locales.
Unsorted.
2
Gulf Coast Canneries, 1913
1913
2
Michigan, Canning
2
New Jersey, 1911, Cranberries
(2 folders)
2
California, Canneries, 1913
1913
2
Wisconsin, 1913, Cranberries
2
Florida, Oyster Industry, 1911
1911
2
Maryland, 1913-1915, Agriculture
2
Maryland, Strawberries, 1913
1913
2
Mississippi, Oyster Canneries, 1914
1914
2
New Jersey, 1914, Agriculture
2
Louisiana, Shrimp Canneries, 1914
1914
2
New York, Buffalo, Cannery, School Children,
1910
1910
2
Colorado, Sugar Beets, 1915
1915
2
New Jersey, 1914, Cranberries
2
New Jersey, 1915, Cranberries
2
California Canneries, 1915
1915
2
Delaware, Berry Picking and Canning
2
South, Oyster, Canneries, 1916
1916
2
Michigan, 1917, Agriculture
2
New Jersey, Cranberries
2
Maryland, Oyster and Crab Work, 1937
1937
3
Illinois, Glass Factories, circa 1904
circa 1904
3
West Virginia, Glass Factories, Child Labor,
1908
1908
3
Mississippi, Cotton Mills, 1908
1908
3
Virginia, Cotton Mills, 1908
1908
3
Georgia, Cotton Mills, 1908
1908
3
Alabama, Cotton Mills, 1910
1910
3
New Jersey, Glass Factories, 1909, Child
Labor
3
Rhode Island and New Hampshire, Child Labor,
1909
1909
3
Illinois, Child Labor, 1910
1910
3
Illinois, Glass Factories, 1910
1910
3
Indiana, Child Labor, 1910
1910
3
Florida, Cigar Industry, Child Labor,
1911
1911
3
Georgia, Cotton Mills, 1909
1909
3
Illinois, Child Labor, 1912,
Factories
3
Mississippi, Cotton Mills, 1911 (Including
Photographs)
3
Mississippi Cotton Mills, 1912
1912
3
Georgia, Child Labor, 1913, Mills
3
Alabama, Mills, 1913
1913
3
Massachusetts, Textiles, 1913
1913
3
Pennsylvania Glass Factories, 1912-1913
1912-1913
3
The Glass Industry, 1911
1911
3
Mississippi, Child Labor, 1913,
Mills
3
New York, Candy Industry, 1913
1913
3
New Jersey, Uniforms, 1917
1917
3
Georgia, Child Labor, 1913, Mills
3
New York, Hat Factories, 1913
1913
3
Maryland, Cork Industry, 1913
1913
3
Georgia, Cotton Mills, 1915
1915
3
New Jersey, Glass Factories
3
New York, Textiles, Child Labor,
1913
1913
3
Indiana, Furniture, 1923
1923
(2 folders)
3
South Carolina, Child Labor, 1912
1912
(2 folders)
3
South Carolina, Cotton Mills and Child Labor
3
Texas, Hosiery
3
Texas, Child Labor, Mills, 1913
1913
4
New York, Newsboys, 1913
1913
4
Interview with Mr. Crummy, Superintendent,
Newsboys Home Club, New York City, 1913, Mar. 11
1913, Mar.
11
4
Illinois Child Labor, 1916
1916
4
South, 1913, Delinquency
4
Ohio
4
New York, Tenement Homework, 1915
1915
4
Pennsylvania, Coal, 1916
1916
4
Pennsylvania Education, Regulations re
Employment of Minors
4
Mississippi, Child Labor,
1913-1914
1913-1914
4
Mississippi, 1913-1914
1913-1914
4
Georgia, Pellegra, 1914
1914
4
Mississippi, Child Labor, 1916
1916
4
Connecticut, 1914, Messengers
4
Virginia, Child Labor, 1914
1914
4
Virginia, Night Messengers, 1913
1913
4
Virginia, Child Labor, 1911
1911
4
Vermont, Street Trades, 1916
1916
4
New Jersey, Street Trades, 1912
1912
4
New Jersey, Mines, 1913
1913
4
New York, Tenement Homework, 1913
1913
4
Mississippi, 1914
1914
4
New York City, Flower and Feather Industry,
1934
1934
4
Newark, N.J., Tenement Homework, 1923
1923
4
Lancaster, Pa., Tenement Homework, 1923
1923
4
Pennsylvania, Coal Mines, 1911
1911
4
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Night Messengers,
1910
1910
4
Pennsylvania, Coal, 1912
1912
4
Kentucky, Night Messengers, 1913
1913
4
Connecticut, Bowling Alleys, 1914
1914
4
Patterson, N.J., Tenement Work,
1922
1922
4
Passaic, N.J., Tenement Homework,
1933
1933
4
Jersey City, N.J., Tenement Homework,
1922
1922
4
West Virginia, Messenger Service,
1914-1915
1914-1915
4
New York City, Newsboys Home Club,
1915
1915
4
Maryland, Mines, 1906
1906
5
Exhibits and Financial Statements from Twentieth
to Forty-Seventh Meeting, 1908, Oct. 29- 1916, Mar. 1916
1908, Oct. 29-
1916, Mar. 1916
(5 folders)
5
National Child Labor Committee, Papers and
Reports Presented at Board of Trustees and Finance Committee Meetings,
1908, Oct. 29-1910, Sept. 30
1908, Oct. 29-1910,
Sept. 30
(14 folders)
6-9
Minutes, 1904-1945
1904-1945
Minute books and minutes of meetings of the National Child Labor Committee and the
National Committee on Federal Aid to Education.
Arranged chronologically.
6
1904, Apr.-1906, Apr., First to Tenth Meeting
1904, Apr.-1906,
Apr., First to Tenth Meeting
6
1906, Oct. 24-1908, Apr. 29, Eleventh to Nineteenth Meeting
1906, Oct. 24-1908,
Apr. 29, Eleventh to Nineteenth Meeting
7
1908-1911
1908-1911
7
1912-1913
1912-1913
7
1914-1915
1914-1915
7
1916-1917
1916-1917
7
1918-1919
1918-1919
7
1920-1921
1920-1921
8
1921-1926, May
1921-1926, May
8
1926-1930, Oct.
1926-1930,
Oct.
9
1930, Nov.-1935, Oct.
1930, Nov.-1935,
Oct.
9
1935, Nov.-1945, Oct.
1935, Nov.-1945,
Oct.
10-13
Proceedings of Annual Meetings and
National Conferences of the National Child Labor Committee, 1905-1929
1905-1929
Accounts of meetings.
Arranged chronologically.
10
1st (1905)
10
2nd (1906)
10
5th (1909)
11
7th (1911)
11
8th (1912)
11
9th (1913)
12
10th (1914)
12
11th (Part II, 1915)
12
12th (1916)
13
13th (1917)
13
14th (1918)
13
20th (1924)
13
25th (1929)
14-65
Scrapbooks and Printed Matter, 1907-1953
1907-1953
Form letters used by the National Child Labor Committee, press releases on
special events and child labor issues and conditions, and newspaper clippings.
Organized by topic or type of material.
14
Form Letters Used
14
1907-1911
1907-1911
15
1915-1922
1915-1922
16
Press Releases
16
General
16
1912-1913, June
1912-1913,
June
17
1913, Oct.-1914, Mar.
1913,
Oct.-1914, Mar.
18
1914, Mar.-Sept.
1914,
Mar.-Sept.
18
1912-1914
1912-1914
19
1914, Oct.-1915, Feb.
1914,
Oct.-1915, Feb.
20
1915, Mar.-1915, Sept.
1915,
Mar.-1915, Sept.
21
1915, Sep.-1916, Mar.
1915,
Sep.-1916, Mar.
21
1916, Apr.-Sept.
1916,
Apr.-Sept.
22
1916, Oct.-1917, Mar.
1916,
Oct.-1917, Mar.
23
1917, Apr.-Sept.
1917,
Apr.-Sept.
23
1917-1918
1917-1918
24
1917, Nov.-1918, Oct.
1917,
Nov.-1918, Oct.
25
1918, Oct.-1919, Sept.
1918,
Oct.-1919, Sept.
26
1919-1920, Oct.
1919-1920,
Oct.
27
1920, Oct.-1921, Sept.
1920,
Oct.-1921, Sept.
28
1920, circa Aug.
1920, circa
Aug.
28
1921-1922, July
1921-1922,
July
29
1922, Oct.-1924, Nov.
1922,
Oct.-1924, Nov.
30
1922, May-1925, Jan.
1922,
May-1925, Jan.
31
1924-1927, Oct.
1924-1927,
Oct.
32
1927, Oct.-1932 Apr.
1927,
Oct.-1932 Apr.
33
1932, May-1934, Sept.
1932,
May-1934, Sept.
34
Child Labor Day
34
1907-1917
1907-1917
35
1924-1926
1924-1926
36
1929-1930
1929-1930
37
1931
1931
38
1932
1932
39
1933
1933
40
1934
1934
41
Child Labor Amendment,
1934-1936
1934-1936
42
Newspaper Clippings on Child Labor
42
1915
1915
42
1918-1920
1918-1920
42
1927-1928
1927-1928
43
1927-1928
1927-1928
43
1929-1930
1929-1930
44
1933-1934
1933-1934
45
1933-1939
1933-1939
46
1934-1937
1934-1937
OV 47
1935 (Oversize)
1935 (Oversize)
48A-48B
Cartoons on Child Labor, 1912-1920
1912-1920
49
Newspaper Clippings on Committee
Conferences
49
7th (1911)
49
8th (1912)
50
9th (1913)
51
10th (1914)
52
11th (1915)
53
12th (1916) Including Miscellaneous Clippings
54
12th (1916)
54
13th (1917)
54
14th (1918)
54
9th National Conference (1920)
55
Newspaper Clippings on Child Labor Amendment,
1934-1938
1934-1938
56
Newspaper Clippings on the Catholic Citizens’
Committee for the Child Labor Amendment, 1936
1936
57
Child Labor Conditions in New York, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania
57
New York Investigating Committee,
1912-1913
1912-1913
58
New Jersey Conditions; Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Conditions, 1918-1919
1918-1919
59
Various Topics
59
Street Trades, 1932
1932
59
Night Messengers, 1909-1910
1909-1910
60
Poetry on Child Labor, 1913-1922
1913-1922
60
Doctors on Child Labor,
1920-1930
1920-1930
61
Chronological File of Newspaper Clippings on
Child Labor
61
1926-1928
1926-1928
62
1929-1931
1929-1931
63
1932
1932
64
1933
1933
65
Miscellaneous Clippings, 1924-1953
1924-1953