American Friends

The National Child Labor Committee, founded in 1904, is a prominent organization dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by working children in the United States. Through the efforts of its members and the powerful photographs captured by Lewis Wickes Hine, the committee has played a pivotal role in raising awareness and advocating for the rights of impoverished and undereducated children. Over the years, the NCLC has successfully worked towards the establishment of the Children's Bureau, the passage of legislation to ban child labor, and the promotion of compulsory education. Continuing its mission, the NCLC persisted in pursuing its goals even after setbacks, ultimately leading to the triumphal passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, which included significant child labor provisions. During World War II, the committee remained vigilant to ensure that employment shortages did not compromise the progress made, and after the war, it expanded its advocacy efforts to include national youth employment and training programs. In later years, the NCLC focused on addressing the educational and health needs of the children of migrant farmworkers and played a crucial role in the passage of legislation such as the Manpower Development and Training Act, the Economic Opportunity Act, and the Vocational Education Act.Generated from the website