Connecticut, U.S., School Age Certificates, 1904-1911

These certificates vouched for your young ancestor’s right to work.

Historical Background

As the twentieth century opened, the issue of child labor had risen to prominence in the labor movement. Thanks to reformers like Florence Kelley, Jane Addams, and Mother Jones, people were starting to take notice, and some states began regulating hours and conditions in which children could work.

Connecticut started establishing educational requirements for working children in 1869. By 1882, working children between the ages of 8 and 14 were required to attend at least 12 weeks of school, and in 1895, children under the age of 14 were prohibited from working in “gainful employment” at all. In 1899, additional legislation gave teeth to the law by imposing a $20-per-week fine. To ensure compliance, employers had to keep proof of age for their child employees on file, but proof could be hard to come by, particularly in the cases of many young immigrants.

What Are School Age Certificates?

The Connecticut State Board of Education helped with oversight of child laborers and, beginning in 1903, could issue certificates for children over 14 as proof of age. This collection includes images of the stubs from these certificates. They may include the following details:

• date
• town
• child’s name
• date and place of birth
• first names of the mother and father
• evidence provided as proof of age

Reference:
Loughran, Miriam E. “The Historical Development of Child-Labor Legislation in the United States.” Thesis, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1921.