Social Change Collection

Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. Madison Silk Co. General view of up-to-date large silk plant (not automatic), March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer

Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. Madison Silk Co. Passaic River and old silk mill section, March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer

Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. Former silk workers. Rear Tenement off Summer St, March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer, who used his camera as a tool for social reform

Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. [View of mill and houses. ], March 1937, Lewis Hine
Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. [View of mill and houses.], March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer, who used his camera as a tool for social reform. US, USA

High Point, North Carolina - Textiles. Pickett Yarn Mill. Winder operator - close-up of hands, January 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer

High Point, North Carolina - Housing. Homes of skilled furniture workers in Tomlinson Chair Mfg. Company, High Point, North Carolina

Millville, New Jersey - Textiles. Millville Manufacturing Co. [Man in between machines.], 1936, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer, who used his camera as a tool for social reform

Millville, New Jersey - Glass bottles. T.C. Wheaton Co. A bottle with the stopper may be seen directly in the lower center of the picture, March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940

Millville, New Jersey - Glass bottles. Whitall Tatum Co. Second shot of a worker taking a bottle of of an I. S. automatic blowing machine for testing, March 1937, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940

Millville, New Jersey - Glass bottles. [Man at work. ], 1936, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940
Millville, New Jersey - Glass bottles. [Man at work.], 1936, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer, who used his camera as a tool for social reform. US, USA

Millville, New Jersey - Scenes. A view of back yards of Whitall Tatum Company houses looking toward Whitall Tatum upper plant, 1936, Lewis Hine, 1874 - 1940, was an American photographer

Millville, New Jersey - Scenes. A view of Whitall Tatum Company houses. Yards looking from Myrtle St. to upper Whitall Tatum plant

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"Unveiling the Threads of Social Change: A Journey through Paterson, New Jersey's Textile Industry" Step into the rich history of Paterson, New Jersey - a city once known as the textile hub of America. Amongst its bustling streets and towering mills, lies a tale that shaped the lives of countless individuals. In Madison Silk Co. , where dreams were woven into reality, we catch a glimpse of skilled workers laboring tirelessly to create exquisite textiles. These threads connected communities and brought prosperity to this thriving city. But behind every success story lies another side. In rear tenements off Summer Street, former silk workers found solace in humble abodes after years spent dedicated to their craft. Here resides an old silk-worker now unable to work due to age or circumstance – a testament to both resilience and struggle. As we wander along Passaic River and the remnants of old silk mills, echoes from March 1937 resound. The deserted mill on 21st Avenue stands as a haunting reminder of changing times. Yet amidst these abandoned structures lie stories waiting to be told – tales etched in time by Lewis Hine's lens. Venturing deeper into Paterson's labyrinthine alleys reveals inner courts off Sealey Street - home to those who wove fabrics with love and care for generations past. Rear tenements off Summer Street house former silk workers whose memories intertwine with each thread they once touched. From afar, Garrett Mountain Park offers us a bird's-eye-view; it unveils not just panoramic vistas but also glimpses into Barnett Silk Mill - an emblematic landmark that witnessed both progress and challenges faced by this resilient community. And finally, our journey culminates at Passaic Falls and River – nature's majestic backdrop against which human ingenuity flourished, and is here that we truly grasp the magnitude sparked by Paterson's textile industry; where innovation met adversity, and dreams were woven into the very fabric of society.