Newspaper Boys Smoking, St. Louis Missouri, Lewis Hine, 1910

Lewis Hine, a renowned photographer recognized for his significant contributions to documenting child labor, captured a poignant image in St. Louis on Monday, May 9th, 1910. The photograph titled "Newsies at Skeeter's Branch, Jefferson near Franklin" depicts three young boys, all engaged in the act of smoking. Hine's work focused on shedding light on the plight of child laborers and the challenging environments they endured.

Hine played a crucial role in exposing the realities of child labor through his compelling photographs. He documented the lives of young workers, highlighting the adverse conditions in which they labored and the impact on their well-being. By capturing images that showed children engaged in adult activities such as smoking, Hine aimed to draw attention to the hardships and exploitation faced by these young individuals.

His photographs became instrumental in raising public awareness about child labor and advocating for labor reforms. Hine's documentation of the working conditions, coupled with his empathetic approach, helped humanize the struggles of these young workers and sparked conversations about the need for change.