Shucker Collection

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. Three young oyster shuckers at the Maggioni Canning Co. in Port Royal, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1911

Grisette 1683, lady and dressmaker, ecailliere
Costumes of women: grisette 1683, lady and dressmaker, ecailliere or oyster shucker and servant 1675. Handcoloured lithograph after prints by Sebastien Leclerc from Le Bibliophile Jacob aka Paul

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1913. A seven-year old oyster shucker at the Lowden Canning Co. in Bluffton, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1913

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1913. A young oyster shucker at the Varn & Platt Canning Co. in Bluffton, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1913

Oyster shucker of Le Havre in a low bonnet decorated with lace only to the ears.. Handcolored fashion plate illustration from Louis-Marie Lantes Costumes des femmes du Pays de Caux, 1827/1885

HINE: OYSTER SHUCKER, 1913. An adult oyster shucker at the Varn & Platt Canning Co. in Bluffton, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1913

OYSTER WORKERS HOUSING. Delapidated housing provided for Oyster shuckers in Port Royal, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1912

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1910. Young workers at Ross Cannery in Seaford, Delaware. Photograph by Lewis Hine, June 1910

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. Nine of these children from 8 years old up go to school half a day. They shuck oysters for four hours before school and three hours after school and on Saturday from 4 A.M

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. A young oyster shucker standing on mound of shells in Biloxi, Mississippi. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1911

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. Young children that shuck oysters and tend to the babies at the Pass Packing Co. in Christian, Mississippi. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1911

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. A ten-year old oyster shucker at the Maggioni Canning Co. in Port Royal, South Carolina. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1911

HINE: OYSTER SHUCKER, 1911. An eight year-old oyster shucker from Baltimore at the Dunbar Cannery factory in Dunbar, Louisiana. Photograph by Lewis Hine, March 1911

HINE: OYSTER SHUCKERS, 1911. A shucking-boss observing a young boy as he shucks oysters at the Dunbar Cannery factory in Dunbar, Louisiana. Photograph by Lewis Hine, March 1911

HINE: OYSTER SHUCKERS, 1911. Young boys and girls working alongside men and women shucking oysters at the Dunbar Cannery factory in Dunbar, Louisiana. Photograph by Lewis Hine, March 1911

HINE: OYSTER SHUCKERS, 1911. Men, Women, boys and girl oyster shuckers standing in front of a great hill of oyster shells at the Dunbar Cannery factory in Dunbar, Louisiana

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1911. A young shrimp-picker and oyster shucker in Biloxi, Mississippi. Behind him is a mountain of oyster shells. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1911

CANNING FACTORY, 1913. Shuckers in the Varn and Platt Canning Company, Yonges Island, South Carolina. Detail of a photograph, 1913, by Lewis W. Hine

HINE: HOUSING, 1911. Fifty oyster shuckers housed in this miserable row of dilapidated shacks, located on an old shell-pile and partly surrounded by a tidal marsh at the Maggioni Canning Co

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"Unveiling the Hidden Reality: The Dark Side of Oyster Shuckers in History" Step back in time to 1911, where child labor was rampant and three young oyster shuckers at the Maggioni Canning Co were caught in its grip. These innocent souls, forced into a grueling existence, bear witness to an era marred by exploitation. Fast forward to 1683, when a grisette named Grisette emerged as both a lady and dressmaker, but also an ecailliere – an oyster shucker. In her low bonnet, she navigated Le Havre's bustling streets with skillful hands that would soon become synonymous with this trade. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean in America during 1913, adult oyster shuckers like those at Varn & Platt Canning Co faced similar hardships. Their weathered faces told tales of tireless labor as they diligently worked to meet demands. Amidst this backdrop lies Port Royal's dilapidated housing for oyster shuckers - stark reminders of their marginalized lives. A glimpse into their living conditions reveals the harsh reality these workers endured while striving to make ends meet. Returning to child labor practices prevalent during that era is Ross Cannery in Seaford, Delaware. Young workers from as young as eight years old spent half their days immersed in arduous tasks before attending school - a heartbreaking sight indeed. In Biloxi during 1911 stood a seven-year-old oyster shucker atop a mound of shells; his tiny frame belied the weight he carried on his shoulders. Witnessing such scenes leaves one pondering how childhood innocence could be so cruelly stolen away. Yet amidst these tales of despair emerges glimpses of resilience and responsibility beyond their tender years. Young children who not only shucked oysters but also tended to babies showcased unwavering strength amid adversity - a testament to the human spirit.