Children Who Labor

(1912, silent, 13min, b&w, 35mm) Sponsor: national Child Labor Committee. production Co.: thomas A. Edison inc. director: Ashley Miller. Writer: Ethel Browning. Cast: Leonie Flugrath [Shirley Mason], robert Conness, John Sturgeon, Viola Flugrath [Viola dana]. resources: Copyright 23Feb1912 J166654-57; More Treasures, 64–68. HoLdinGS: MoMA.

CHILDREN WHO LABOR (1912, silent, 13min, b&w, 35mm) Sponsor: national Child Labor Committee. production Co.: thomas A. Edison inc. director: Ashley Miller. Writer: Ethel Browning. Cast: Leonie Flugrath [Shirley Mason], robert Conness, John Sturgeon, Viola Flugrath [Viola dana]. resources: Copyright 23Feb1912 J166654-57; More Treasures, 64–68. Holdings: MoMA.

Social-issue melodrama exposing the exploitation of child mill workers. The film begins with children beseeching Uncle Sam for help as the word “greed” floats above their heads. After falling from a train, an industrialist’s daughter is rescued and adopted by immigrant workers. Unbeknownst to her father, she ends up working in his factory. She falls ill, becomes reunit- ed with her parents, and persuades her father to hire only adults. note: Praised by contem- porary reviewers, Children Who Labor was part of the National Child Labor Committee’s multimedia campaign to fight the industrial exploitation of children.