Work

Gilbreth Stopwatch

The tools, rules, and relationships of the workplace illustrate some of the enduring collaborations and conflicts in the everyday life of the nation. The Museum has more than 5,000 traditional American tools, chests, and simple machines for working wood, stone, metal, and leather. Materials on welding, riveting, and iron and steel construction tell a more industrial version of the story. Computers, industrial robots, and other artifacts represent work in the Information Age.

But work is more than just tools. The collections include a factory gate, the motion-study photographs of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, and more than 3,000 work incentive posters. The rise of the factory system is measured, in part, by time clocks in the collections. More than 9,000 items bring in the story of labor unions, strikes, and demonstrations over trade and economic issues.

Place: Texas

Braceros Standing for Photographs

Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, while others wait in line.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, while others wait in line.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.13
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.13

Braceros Preparing Food

Photograph: Braceros prepare food at a camp near McAllen, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros prepare food at a camp near McAllen, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.08
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.08

Bracero Loading Cotton

Photograph: A bracero weighs a bag of cotton near McAllen, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero weighs a bag of cotton near McAllen, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.18.03
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.18.03

Braceros Getting Processed

Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.34
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.34

Truck Full of Braceros

Photograph: Braceros sit in a truck and wait to leave the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: Braceros sit in a truck and wait to leave the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.36
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.36

Bracero Getting an X-ray

Photograph: A bracero receives a chest X-ray during a physical examination at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero receives a chest X-ray during a physical examination at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.05
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.05

Association Agent Reviewing Braceros

Photograph: An agent from a Texas growers association checks the musculature of a bracero's arm at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: An agent from a Texas growers association checks the musculature of a bracero's arm at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.21
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.21

Bracero Service Facilities

Photograph: Parked cars sit in front of bracero insurance and service facilities near Hidalgo, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Parked cars sit in front of bracero insurance and service facilities near Hidalgo, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.11.18
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.11.18

Braceros Boarding Trucks

Photograph: Braceros board trucks at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: Braceros board trucks at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.29
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.29

Braceros Standing for Photographs

Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.14
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.14

Braceros Preparing Tortillas

Photograph: Braceros prepare tortillas at a camp near McAllen, Texas.
Description
Photograph: Braceros prepare tortillas at a camp near McAllen, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.10
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.10

Bracero Getting an X-ray

Photograph: A bracero receives a chest X-ray during a physical examination at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: A bracero receives a chest X-ray during a physical examination at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.22
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.22

Blackboard at Bracero Processing Center

Photograph: At the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, a blackboard lists growers association names, the number of braceros needed for farm work, and the preferred length of time.
Description
Photograph: At the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, a blackboard lists growers association names, the number of braceros needed for farm work, and the preferred length of time.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.12
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.12

Inspection of Braceros' Belongings

Photograph: Braceros unpack their personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros unpack their personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.24
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.24

Association Agent Reviewing Braceros

Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.
Description
Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.15
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.15

Physical Examination of Braceros

Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.32
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.32

Bracero Carrying Cotton

Photograph: A bracero carries a bag of cotton to a truck near McAllen, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero carries a bag of cotton to a truck near McAllen, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.18.40
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.18.40

Braceros Waiting at Processing Center

Photograph: Braceros wait to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.15
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.15

Braceros Waiting to Board Trucks

Photograph: Braceros wait in line to board trucks at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait in line to board trucks at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.18.38
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.18.38

Braceros Standing for Photographs

Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Two braceros stand for identification photographs at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.15
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.15

Reviewing Bracero's Documents

Photograph: A U.S. Border Patrol official reviews a bracero's documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A U.S. Border Patrol official reviews a bracero's documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.24
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.24

Braceros Preparing Food

Photograph: Braceros prepare food in a living quarter at a camp near McAllen, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros prepare food in a living quarter at a camp near McAllen, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.29
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.29

Braceros Waiting in Line

Photograph: Braceros wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.19
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.19

Braceros Preparing Food

Photograph: Braceros prepare food in a living quarter at a camp near McAllen, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros prepare food in a living quarter at a camp near McAllen, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.28
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.28

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.