Browse Items (258 total)

Photograph, 2015, of the Saint Nicholas Breaker, Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania

Photograph, 2015, of the Saint Nicholas Breaker, Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania

North Ashland (PA) Colliery, breaker boys at work

National Child Labor Committee No. 954. 1-legged boy. Neil Gallagher, Wilkes Barre, Pa. Born January 14, 1891. Went to work at about 9 years. Worked about two years in breaker. Went inside at about 11 years. "Tripper," tending door. 83 cents [a] day.…

Mr. A. Langerfeld and one of his machines for picking coal which does away completely with the use of breaker boys. The percent of slate that goes in with the coal separated by this machine is 1% to 2%, where the percent with the old primitive method…

Photo labeled a breaker boy, he could possibly be a mule driver or a door boy/trapper (due to lamp on cap needed in the mines for those jobs, and not used by breaker boys.)

1902 ANTHRACITE COAL STRIKE
In May 1902, 150,000 mine workers stuck for six months for higher wages,union recognition,shorter hours,and other demands. A July 30th riot of 5,000 strikers in Shenandoah led to its occupation of the Pa. National Guard…

In May 1902, 150,000 mineworkers struck for six months for union recognition, higher wages, shorter hours, and other demands. The Anthracite Coal Strike Commission, set up by President Theodore Roosevelt, held hearings at the Lackawanna County…