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Workers Collection (#6)

"Workers: The Backbone of Nations, United by Labor" From the bustling streets of China during the Cultural Revolution to the coal miners in South Wales and Cornwall

Background imageWorkers Collection: Telephone bureau exchange, 1889

Telephone bureau exchange, 1889
Telephone bureau exchange. 19th-century artwork of woman operating the exchange at a telephone bureau. They are using receivers to listen to incoming calls and using the wires

Background imageWorkers Collection: Farm workers meeting C013 / 4872

Farm workers meeting C013 / 4872
Farm workers meeting before joining a collective farm. Photographed in Malchivy village, Ukraine

Background imageWorkers Collection: Group of workers on Blackfriars Bridge site

Group of workers on Blackfriars Bridge site, c.1863-4. PHO/1/3/14 Date: circa 1864

Background imageWorkers Collection: The past is behind us, the future is ahead. Let us all striv

The past is behind us, the future is ahead. Let us all strive to make the future better and brighter than the past ever was. Soldier shaking hands with worker holding sledgehammer. Date 1918

Background imageWorkers Collection: Actresses on National Service, 1939

Actresses on National Service, 1939
Cast members of Tony Draws a Horse at the Comedy Theatre in London pictured in their other war roles. Miss Kay Astor (centre) is a nurse

Background imageWorkers Collection: Candle Factory

Candle Factory

Background imageWorkers Collection: Brewery workers

Brewery workers
The work force at Kronlein brewery about 1900 Date: 1900

Background imageWorkers Collection: Deer farming, trimming Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) joint, close-up of hands with chainmail gloves

Deer farming, trimming Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) joint, close-up of hands with chainmail gloves, England, january

Background imageWorkers Collection: Yarn twisting

Yarn twisting. Yarn is a general term for a long continuous bundle of fibres. Here, fibres are being spun together to produce yarn

Background imageWorkers Collection: Dry cleaners

Dry cleaners
American Gas Appliance Co. Men Cleaning Overcoats

Background imageWorkers Collection: Harvest workers near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Harvest workers near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Harvest workers gathering and threshing near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed, South Wales

Background imageWorkers Collection: James Winstone, South Wales Miners Federation

James Winstone, South Wales Miners Federation
James Winstone, Vice President of the South Wales Miners Federation (1912-14), and President in 1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: Miner working at the coalface, South Wales

Miner working at the coalface, South Wales
A miner, stripped to the waist, working at the coalface in a mine in South Wales

Background imageWorkers Collection: Two women workers at the factory gates, Derby

Two women workers at the factory gates, Derby
Two female workmates pose outside the factory gates at Burroughs & Sturgess, Frederick Street, Derby

Background imageWorkers Collection: Molding Lead Soldiers

Molding Lead Soldiers
In a toy factory, workers mold lead soldiers

Background imageWorkers Collection: Lenin and Workers

Lenin and Workers
Lenin addresses workers at the Putilov factory, Petrograd, who provide solid support for his coup

Background imageWorkers Collection: Workers - May Day 1936

Workers - May Day 1936
Workers organisations May Day celebrations in Hyde Park - London

Background imageWorkers Collection: Cattle at the Omo River, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Cattle at the Omo River, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Background imageWorkers Collection: Medieval Workers 15C

Medieval Workers 15C
Labourers & Artificers

Background imageWorkers Collection: Kentish Cider Drinkers

Kentish Cider Drinkers
After a hard morning ploughing, two Kentish farm workers take a well earned break and pour themselves a mug of cider from a pottery flask

Background imageWorkers Collection: Land Army 1941

Land Army 1941
Two former mill workers, sisters Ava and Blanche Horn, (" first Bevin girls" - Land Army conscripts & volunteers) are photographed in London enroute for the south

Background imageWorkers Collection: Female Munitions Workers

Female Munitions Workers
The Australian Premier, William Hughes, reviews female munitions workers at Cardiff, escorted by Phyllis Ayrton

Background imageWorkers Collection: Alsace Festival, 1911

Alsace Festival, 1911
Happy vineyard workers dance through the fields during the fete de vendanges (vineyard festival) in Alsace, France

Background imageWorkers Collection: Chartist Housing Estate

Chartist Housing Estate
The Chartist estate at Snigs End, Gloucestershire, one of several built by Feargus O Connor for workers. Sadly, the promised Paradise is a disastrous failure

Background imageWorkers Collection: Sheep farming, shepherd leading flock of crossbred mule ewes down town high street

Sheep farming, shepherd leading flock of crossbred mule ewes down town high street, returning back to farm for lambing, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England, January

Background imageWorkers Collection: Layers of life

Layers of life
Kuntal Biswas

Background imageWorkers Collection: Traveller at a Cottage Door, 1649. Creator: Isaac van Ostade

Traveller at a Cottage Door, 1649. Creator: Isaac van Ostade
Traveller at a Cottage Door, 1649. A traveller or possibly an itinerant worker to judge from his clothes and the objects he carries (a satchel and sheepskin rucksack)

Background imageWorkers Collection: Pennsylvania coal strike - in Atlantic camp showing guns of deputies, between c1910 and c1915

Pennsylvania coal strike - in Atlantic camp showing guns of deputies, between c1910 and c1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: In Superior Camp - Mine strike, Pennsylvania, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service

In Superior Camp - Mine strike, Pennsylvania, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
In Superior Camp - Mine strike, Pennsylvania, between c1910 and c1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: White Wings under police protection, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service

White Wings under police protection, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service
White Wings under police protection, 1911. Shows men dressed in white uniforms and hats sweeping garbage in the streets, during a New York City garbage strike, Nov. 8-11, 1911

Background imageWorkers Collection: White Wings who have not struck, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service

White Wings who have not struck, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service
White Wings who have not struck, 1911. Shows men in white uniforms and hats with brooms in the street to sweep trash during the New York City garbage strike, Nov. 8-11, 1911

Background imageWorkers Collection: Police protecting garbage carts, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service

Police protecting garbage carts, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service
Police protecting garbage carts, 1911. Shows the garbage strike in New York City, Nov. 8-11, 1911

Background imageWorkers Collection: Garbage carts protected by police, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service

Garbage carts protected by police, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service
Garbage carts protected by police, 1911. Shows the garbage strike in New York City, Nov. 8-11, 1911

Background imageWorkers Collection: Garbage strike, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service

Garbage strike, 1911. Creator: Bain News Service
Garbage strike, 1911. Shows the garbage strike in New York City, Nov. 8-11, 1911

Background imageWorkers Collection: Strikers crossing London Bridge, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service

Strikers crossing London Bridge, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Strikers crossing London Bridge, between c1910 and c1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: Christmas Mail, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service

Christmas Mail, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Christmas Mail, between c1910 and c1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: Working on motor speedway, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service

Working on motor speedway, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Working on motor speedway, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Employees of the Baldwin Locomotive works standing outside bldg. Philadelphia, 1910

Employees of the Baldwin Locomotive works standing outside bldg. Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Employees of the Baldwin Locomotive works standing outside bldg. Philadelphia, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Strikers clamoring for motorman of car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service

Strikers clamoring for motorman of car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Strikers clamoring for motorman of car, Philadelphia, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Battered striker with policemen, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service

Battered striker with policemen, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Battered striker with policemen, Philadelphia, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Rioters stoning a trolley car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service

Rioters stoning a trolley car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Rioters stoning a trolley car, Philadelphia, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Rioters charging horse-drawn car, later wrecking it on Kensington Ave. Philadelphia, 1910

Rioters charging horse-drawn car, later wrecking it on Kensington Ave. Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Rioters charging horse-drawn car, later wrecking it on Kensington Ave. Philadelphia, 1910

Background imageWorkers Collection: Miners among coal boxes, S. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1912. Creator: Bain News Service

Miners among coal boxes, S. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1912. Creator: Bain News Service
Miners among coal boxes, S. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1912

Background imageWorkers Collection: Placing buntal straw in vinegar, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service

Placing buntal straw in vinegar, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Placing buntal straw in vinegar, between c1915 and c1920

Background imageWorkers Collection: The Earth, unknown date. Creator: Nicolas Lancret

The Earth, unknown date. Creator: Nicolas Lancret
The Earth, unknown date. Part of a series on the Four Elements, a theme that was popular during the 17th century and which frequently took the form of depictions of figures engaged in tasks

Background imageWorkers Collection: Strikers at Auburn - April 13, 1913. Creator: Bain News Service

Strikers at Auburn - April 13, 1913. Creator: Bain News Service
Strikers at Auburn - April 13, 1913. Shows strikers involved in strike related to the dismantling of International Harvester Company's twine mill, Auburn, New York

Background imageWorkers Collection: Section of Turbine for VATERLAND, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service

Section of Turbine for VATERLAND, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Section of Turbine for VATERLAND, between c1910 and c1915

Background imageWorkers Collection: Soup-house for ice-cutters, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service

Soup-house for ice-cutters, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Soup-house for ice-cutters, between c1910 and c1915. Shows Dietz lantern boxes and lanterns next to soup-house




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"Workers: The Backbone of Nations, United by Labor" From the bustling streets of China during the Cultural Revolution to the coal miners in South Wales and Cornwall, they have always played a vital role in shaping societies. In Chairman Mao's China, a powerful cultural revolution poster depicted workers as heroes, inspiring unity and progress. Meanwhile, deep underground in shaft lifts and at Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen and South Wales coal mines, brave miners risked their lives daily to fuel industrial growth. The Workers May-Pole design showcased solidarity among laborers striving for socialist ideals. In 1910 Britain, even political parties recognized the importance with colorful posters appealing for support. Swindon witnessed the dedication of builders constructing diesel locomotives while LNER promoted North East Coast Exhibition through an artistic poster celebrating hardworking individuals. Artists like Harold Harvey captured scenes from clay pits in Cornwall - be it Polkanuggo Quarry or Leswidden - highlighting arduous work that sustained local economies. Soviet propaganda also exalted workers' contributions under the sun of the motherland. Boris Parmeev's iconic poster from 1970s USSR symbolized strength gained through collective effort. Across continents and eras, these glimpses into worker's lives remind us that they are not just cogs within a system but essential pillars upon which nations stand tall. Their unwavering determination fuels progress and shapes our shared future.