Suspended in a custom basket one thousand feet above Fifth Avenue, Lewis Hine documented the steel-frame construction of the Empire State Building. This act of physical vulnerability reflected his lifelong commitment to using the camera as an investigative instrument to challenge systemic social inequity through direct, unvarnished visual evidence.
Early Academic Development
Born in Oshkosh in 1874, Hine entered the workforce early following his father's accidental death. After funding his studies through various jobs, he enrolled at the University of Chicago in 1900. A pivotal connection with Frank Manny brought him to the Ethical Culture School in New York City by 1901. During this period, he expanded his academic background through coursework at Columbia University and New York University, eventually integrating photography into his sociology curriculum.
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Hine first identified photography as a tool for reform while documenting immigrants at Ellis Island between 1904 and 1909. His shift toward professional social documentation intensified when he joined the Russell Sage Foundation to contribute to The Pittsburgh Survey. In 1908, he transitioned to the National Child Labor Committee. To bypass industrial security, he operated under various guises—such as a postcard vendor or fire inspector—to capture the reality of child labor in mines and mills.
Industrial Portraits and Final Years
During and after World War I, Hine captured American Red Cross relief efforts in Europe. By the 1920s, his focus moved to the human element of modern production, resulting in his acclaimed Power House Mechanic. Later, he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Works Progress Administration. Despite this body of work, his final years were marked by financial hardship and declining professional demand. He died in 1940 at Hastings-on-Hudson.
Fast facts
- Born: 1874, Oshkosh
- Died: 1940, Hastings-on-Hudson
- Education: University of Chicago, Columbia University, New York University
- Notable Work: Power House Mechanic
- Burial Site: Ouleout Valley Cemetery
- Primary Field: Social reform photography
- Nationality: United States
Questions readers ask
What was the result of his child labor photography?
His documentation aided the National Child Labor Committee in lobbying efforts, contributing to the establishment of the Children's Bureau in 1912 and the subsequent passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
How did he document the Empire State Building?
He was commissioned in 1930 to photograph the construction, frequently positioning himself in a specially designed basket swung out 1,000 feet above the street to capture workers on the steel framework.
Achievements
- Notable work: Power House Mechanic
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