Children Of The City : At Work and at Play

This classic title, which was the inspiration for the story behind the new musical Newsies , paints a surprising and indelible portrait of the bitter hardships, amazing resourcefulness, and unadulterated joys experienced by immigrant children in American metropolises at the turn of the century. The turn of the century was a time of explosive growth for American cities, a time of nascent hopes and apparently limitless possibilities. In Children of the City, David Nasaw re-creates this period in our social history from the vantage point of the children who grew up then. Drawing on hundreds of memoirs, autobiographies, oral histories and unpublished--and until now unexamined--primary source materials from cities across the country, he provides us with a warm and eloquent portrait of these children, their families, their daily lives, their fears, and their dreams. Illustrated with 68 photographs from the period, many never before published, Children of the City offers a vibrant portrait of a time when our cities and our grandparents were young This classic title, which was the inspiration for the story behind the new musical Newsies , paints a surprising and indelible portrait of the bitter hardships, amazing resourcefulness, and unadulterated joys experienced by immigrant children in American metropolises at the turn of the century. The turn of the century was a time of explosive growth for American cities, a time of nascent hopes and apparently limitless possibilities. In Children of the City, David Nasaw re-creates this period in our social history from the vantage point of the children who grew up then. Drawing on hundreds of memoirs, autobiographies, oral histories and unpublished--and until now unexamined--primary source materials from cities across the country, he provides us with a warm and eloquent portrait of these children, their families, their daily lives, their fears, and their dreams. Illustrated with 68 photographs from the period, many never before published, Children of... Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Acknowledgments 4 Preface 6 Contents 11 1. The City They Called Home 12 2. At Play in the City 32 3. Child Labor and Laborers 59 4. The Littlest Hustlers 70 5. The Newsies 87 6. Junkers, Scavengers, and Petty Thieves 119 7. The Little Mothers 136 8. All That Money Could Buy 154 9. The Battle for Spending Money 172 10. The Children and the Child-Savers 182 11. Working Together 207 12. Unions and Strikes 218 13. End of an Era 242 Epilogue 252 Appendix: A Note on Sources: The Newsboy Studies 267 Abbreviations 269 Notes 271 The Turn Of The Twentieth Century Was A Time Of Explosive Growth For American Cities, A Time Of Nascent Hopes And Apparently Limitless Possibilities. In Children Of The City, David Nasaw Re-creates This Period In Our Social History From The Vantage Point Of The Children Who Grew Up Then. Drawing On Hundreds Of Memoirs, Autobiographies, Oral Histories And Unpublished—and Until Now Unexamined—primary Source Materials From Cities Across The Country, He Provides Us With A Warm And Eloquent Portrait Of These Children, Their Families, Their Daily Lives, Their Fears, And Their Dreams. Illustrated With 68 Photographs From The Period, Many Never Before Published, Children Of The City Offers A Vibrant Portrait Of A Time When Our Cities And Our Grandparents Were Young. The City They Called Home -- At Play In The City -- Child Labor And Laborers -- The Littlest Hustlers -- The Newsies -- Junkers, Scavengers, And Petty Thieves -- The Little Mothers -- All That Money Could Buy -- The Battle For Spending Money -- The Children And The Child-savers -- Working Together -- Unions And Strikes -- End Of An Era. David Nasaw. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-257) And Index. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 231-257) And Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The turn of the century was a time of explosive growth for American cities, a time of nascent hopes and apparently limitless possibilities. In Children of the City, David Nasaw re-creates this period in our social history from the vantage point of the children who grew up then. Drawing on hundreds of memoirs, autobiographies, oral histories and unpublished--and until now unexamined--primary source materials from cities across the country, he provides us with a warm and eloquent portrait of these children, their families, their daily lives, their fears, and their dreams. Illustrated with 68 photographs from the period, many never before published, Children of the City offers a vibrant protrait of a time when our cities and our grandparents were young. -- from publisher description It was the turn of the 20th century--a time of explosive growth for American cities, a time of nascent hopes and apparently limitless possibilities. Author David Nasaw has recreated this period in our social history from the vantage point of the children who grew up there. Drawing on hundreds of memoirs, autobiographies, oral histories, and unpublished--and until now unexamined--primary source materials from cities across the country, he provides us with a warm and eloquent portrait of these children, their families, their daily lives, their fears, and their dreams.--From publisher description. This social history chronicles the lives of the children of America's turn-of-the-century immigrants