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.

Topic: Agriculture

Checking Bracero's Hands

Photograph: An official checks a bracero's hands for calluses at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Description
Photograph: An official checks a bracero's hands for calluses at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.11.41
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.11.41

Braceros Waiting for Bus

Photograph: Braceros wait to board buses in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait to board buses in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.39.13
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.39.13

Braceros Walking Past Grave

Photograph: Braceros, walking from the Mexican town of Monterrey to the processing center three miles away, pass the grave of a fallen compatriot.
Description
Photograph: Braceros, walking from the Mexican town of Monterrey to the processing center three miles away, pass the grave of a fallen compatriot.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.10.34
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.10.34

Bracero Reading a Book

Photograph: A bracero sits in bed and reads an English grammar book in a living quarter at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero sits in bed and reads an English grammar book in a living quarter at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.44.16
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.44.16

Aerial View of Farm Field

Photograph: Viewed from a plane flying overhead, a river flows past nearby fields in California.
Description
Photograph: Viewed from a plane flying overhead, a river flows past nearby fields in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.19.29
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.19.29

Braceros Checking for Mail

Photograph: Braceros check for mail at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.
Description
Photograph: Braceros check for mail at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.27.23
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.27.23

Braceros Listening to Radio

Photograph: Braceros talk, smoke, listen to the radio, and eat strawberries in a living quarter at a camp in California.
Description
Photograph: Braceros talk, smoke, listen to the radio, and eat strawberries in a living quarter at a camp in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.21.16
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.21.16

Bracero Writing a Letter

Photograph: A bracero sits on a bed and writes a letter in a living quarter at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero sits on a bed and writes a letter in a living quarter at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.21.32
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.21.32

Braceros at Association Office

Photograph: Braceros wait next to a notice board in an office in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait next to a notice board in an office in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.24.21
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.24.21

Bracero Smoking a Cigarette

Photograph: A bracero lies on his bed and smokes a cigarette at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero lies on his bed and smokes a cigarette at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.32.24
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.32.24

Bracero Getting a Haircut

Photograph: A bracero cuts another's hair next to railroad tracks near the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero cuts another's hair next to railroad tracks near the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.09.02
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.09.02

Serving Braceros a Meal

Photograph: Braceros are served dinner in a dining hall at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros are served dinner in a dining hall at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.28.23
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.28.23

Braceros at Processing Center

Photograph: A guard armed with a rubber truncheon hurries a line of braceros along at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A guard armed with a rubber truncheon hurries a line of braceros along at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.07.25
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.07.25

Braceros Waiting with Belongings

Photograph: Braceros sit with suitcases and other belongings under a tree in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros sit with suitcases and other belongings under a tree in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.39.37
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.39.37

Braceros at Meal Time

Photograph: Braceros are served food in a dining hall at a camp in California.
Description
Photograph: Braceros are served food in a dining hall at a camp in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.47.23
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.47.23

Braceros Receiving Paychecks

Photograph: Braceros receive paychecks from an official in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros receive paychecks from an official in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.39.21
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.39.21

Braceros Picking Lettuce

Photograph: Braceros pick lettuce and place it in boxes in a field in the Salinas Valley, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros pick lettuce and place it in boxes in a field in the Salinas Valley, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.34.29
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.34.29

Braceros Waiting for Doctor

Photograph: A nurse takes a bracero's temperature while others sit in a waiting room at the clinical practice of Dr. Stanley Savoy in the Salinas Valley, California.
Description
Photograph: A nurse takes a bracero's temperature while others sit in a waiting room at the clinical practice of Dr. Stanley Savoy in the Salinas Valley, California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.47.11
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.47.11

Braceros Getting Processed

Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Description
Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.13.23
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.13.23

Braceros at Association Building

Photograph: Braceros crowd around the side of the San Jaoquin County Farm Production Association building in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros crowd around the side of the San Jaoquin County Farm Production Association building in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.24.09
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.24.09

Association Building

Photograph: Viewed from a street, the Los Gatitos cafe stands beside a growers association office in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Viewed from a street, the Los Gatitos cafe stands beside a growers association office in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.27.11
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.27.11

Braceros Crossing Bridge

Photograph: Braceros cross the Mexico-U.S. border while walking over the Reynosa-Hidalgo bridge.
Description
Photograph: Braceros cross the Mexico-U.S. border while walking over the Reynosa-Hidalgo bridge.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.03
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.03

Braceros Talking to Official

Photograph: Braceros talk to an official in an office, Mexico City, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros talk to an official in an office, Mexico City, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.08.20
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.08.20

Bracero Sitting in Bed

Photograph: A bracero sits on his bed in a living quarter at a camp in California.
Description
Photograph: A bracero sits on his bed in a living quarter at a camp in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.22.30
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.22.30

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.