Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Session 3.09 Poster Session
Presentation #1 Title
Child Labor in the Carolina Mountains
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Like the rest of the country, the Appalachian region was caught up in the debate over child labor in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This presentation explores the ways that Carolina mountain families navigated the issues of child labor during this period of industrial expansion. My poster will examine the conditions that children in the workforce faced as they helped provide for their families. I will be drawing on primary sources such as photographs, government documents, and personal accounts to support my inquiries related to the history of children in the mountain workforce. While a national discussion, there are examples where I live in Western North Carolina that show how child labor in the cotton mills developed and how the regulation of child labor was put into place. Some of the questions that I hope to answer through this research relate to mountain industries, and will be supported by visits to and research about the historic mills located in Asheville and Marshall, North Carolina.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
My name is Ashley Spears. I am a senior history major at Mars Hill University. I am from Lenoir, North Carolina and this will be my third ASA conference.
Child Labor in the Carolina Mountains
MSC Lobby
Like the rest of the country, the Appalachian region was caught up in the debate over child labor in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This presentation explores the ways that Carolina mountain families navigated the issues of child labor during this period of industrial expansion. My poster will examine the conditions that children in the workforce faced as they helped provide for their families. I will be drawing on primary sources such as photographs, government documents, and personal accounts to support my inquiries related to the history of children in the mountain workforce. While a national discussion, there are examples where I live in Western North Carolina that show how child labor in the cotton mills developed and how the regulation of child labor was put into place. Some of the questions that I hope to answer through this research relate to mountain industries, and will be supported by visits to and research about the historic mills located in Asheville and Marshall, North Carolina.
