WWII Little Men Italy War Orphans Child Labor Photo Archive (32)

Item Details

Unseen, uncredited & absolutely heartbreaking — apparently either one off or very low production photo “book” made during interwar or early WWII occupation.

 

Mothers ribbon (8 bows at least) front cover & second page that explains how these boys have replaced their fathers already lost to war in supporting their families.

 

That concludes the text, there are no end pages. (32) 5” square pages with single photos & two line rhymes describing their work.

 

Occupations include : selling newspapers, tire repair (mechanic), wheat paster, errand boy with heavy loads (carts & sacks), shoe shines, broom seller, chestnut vendor, pushing barrels of wine — another keeping them from rolling off the cart, rope spinner, garbage men, “thieves”, moving bread, painting boats in a shipyard, moving stone blocks, solder // radio repairman, bicycle tire repair, plumbing, carpentry, cutting hair, beggars (some barefoot), street card games (one small boy already an amputee), waiting tables for American soldiers, carrying goat carcasses to butcher and finally one that uses the term “white slavery”.

 

Paper tape “binding” failed so long ago it’s no longer possible to tell if this is complete as issued. But I can not imagine finding another copy for comparison. Strong social // child welfare document from Europe’s interwar years through the lens of an American GI.