The thirteen photographs in this slideshow depict farm laborers, factory employees, and other Wisconsin workers from the 1890s to the 1970s. Looking at these images, we wonder: what was on the minds of these now-anonymous men and women as they posed for the photographer? Were they proud of their work, their uniforms, their employers? Were they pleased to have a break or anxious to get back to the task at hand?
Employees pose outside of H. J. Ammann Cigar Factory with a portrait of company founder Henry Ammann in the foreground, Kiel, ca. 1900. Source: Heritage Collection, Kiel Public Library.
Warner Dredging Company work crew, Adams County, ca. 1912. Photo by Taylor Brothers. Source: UW-La Crosse.
Two paper counters at the Bergstrom Paper Company, Menasha, ca. 1910. Source: Menasha Public Library. Read more about Wisconsin’s history of paper manufacturing in the Fox Valley Memory Project.
Pure Foods Company employees with a shipment of Jiffy-Jell (a precursor to Jell-O) destined for France, Waukesha, 1917. Photo by Warren O’Brien. Source: Waukesha County Historical Society.
Globe Shipbuilding employees, Superior, ca. 1942. Globe built ships for military use during World War II. Source: UW-Superior. Read more about wartime shipbuilding in the Dictionary of WI History.
“Gaynor’s Rakers” – harvesting crew for Gaynor Cranberry Company, Wisconsin Rapids, 1912. Photo by Taylor Brothers. Source: South Wood County Historical Corporation.
“The stacking crew” posed in front of a haystack, Cornfalfa Farms, Waukesha County, early 20th c. Source: New Berlin Historical Society.
A logging crew relaxes in the bunkhouse, unidentified Northwoods location, 1900-1920. Photo by A. J. Kingsbury. Source: Langlade County Historical Society.
Sources
The images in this slideshow come from the following digital collections. Follow the links to browse and search the full collections.