Occupational Disease Collection

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Oklahoma migrant, Texas. 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Oklahoma migrant, Texas. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies. The father, aged thirty-five, is an intelligent fellow, a painter by trade

Making beaver hats, 1841. Although called beaver hats, a certain amount beaver fur was only used in the most expensive examples. In most others, rabbit fur was used

Making beaver hats, 1835. Although called beaver hats, a certain amount of beaver fur was only used in the most expensive examples. In most others, rabbit fur was used

Making beaver hats, 1750. Although called beaver, little or no beaver fur was used. According to quality, nap on felt fabric was made of mixtures of beaver, musquash or rabbit fur, and cotton wool

Needle-making equipment, 1819. The large machine at bottom right is George Priors dry grinder with a box partly enclosing the grindstone to minimise dust (1813)

Hat Maker. Manufacture of beaver hats by felting material in a kettle (background) and blocking (shaping) the hat and brushing the pile. Although called beaver, little or no beaver fur was used

Grinding needle points, Redditch, England, c1830. A grindstone driven by water or steam. Needle grinding was well-paid work but the lives of grinders were short owing to the inhalation of dust

Heart and lung disease, X-ray C018 / 0498
Heart and lung disease. Coloured X-ray of the chest of an 80 year old patient with heart and lung disease. The patient is a former miner and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Lung silicosis, light micrograph C015 / 7129
Lung silicosis. Light micrograph of a section through a lung with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis caused by exposure to silica dusts. The lung tissue has become fibrous (centre)

Heart and lung disease, X-rays C018 / 0502
Heart and lung disease. Coloured X-ray (top left) and computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest of an 80 year old patient with heart and lung disease

Heart and lung disease, X-ray C018 / 0500
Heart and lung disease. Coloured X-ray of the chest of an 80 year old patient with heart and lung disease. The patient is a former miner and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

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From the humble beaver hat factories of 1750, 1835, and 1841 in Europe, to the bustling needle-making workshops of Redditch, England in 1819, the industrial revolution brought about significant advancements in manufacturing processes. However, these innovations came with a cost. Unbeknownst to many hat makers and needle workers, the use of toxic materials like mercury and silica dust led to devastating occupational diseases. Heart and lung ailments, such as silicosis and other respiratory conditions, became common afflictions for those working in these industries. The grim reality of these hidden hazards was only revealed through X-ray imaging in the early 20th century (C018 / 0498, C015 / 7129, C018 / 0500, C018 / 0502). The history of occupational diseases serves as a stark reminder of the importance of worker safety and the need for continued vigilance in identifying and mitigating workplace hazards.