Messenger Boy, Lewis Hine, 1910
Entitled: "Harvey Buchanan, 608 E. Van Buren St. Postal Telegraph Co. Messenger No. 1908. 14 years of age. 1 year in service. Works from 7 to 6 $4 weekly. Visits houses of prostitution. Smokes. Investigator, Edward F. Brown. Location: Wilmington, Delaware." Telegraph boys were uniformed young men between 10-18 years of age who carried telegrams through urban streets. In most areas they used bicycles; in some dense areas they went on foot. Unlike the men in the telegraph office who worked indoors on fixed wages under close supervision, enjoyed union benefits, and managed the electrical transfer of information, telegraph boys worked outdoors under no supervision on piece wages, saw no union benefits, and managed the physical aspect of the industry in the form of handwritten or printed paper messages. Photographed by Lewis Hine, May 1910.
Size: 3266px × 4350px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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