
06/10/2025
Gracie Clark, dressed in white, stands at 268 A Street in Huntsville, Alabama. She has spent the last three years working as a spinner in the filling room of the Merrimack Mill, a position that reflects the harsh realities many children faced during the early 20th century. Despite her young appearance, her life insurance policy confirms that she is just thirteen years old.
This means Gracie began her work at the mill when she was only ten, a striking example of child labor during that era. Her early entry into the workforce was not unusual at the time, especially in southern textile mills, where children were often employed to perform demanding and repetitive tasks under strict conditions. Her story highlights the vulnerability of working-class families who relied on every possible income.
Photographer Lewis Wickes Hine captured Gracie's image as part of his work for the National Child Labor Committee. His photographs were powerful tools in the campaign to reform child labor laws in the United States. Through his lens, Hine gave a face to the statistics, helping to generate public awareness and support for change.