Varjakka sawmill (1900-1929) as a working environment for children and young people

Authors

• Tiina Kuokkanen University of Oulu
• Noora Hemminki University of Oulu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33355/tw.120463

Keywords:

adolescents, industry, sawmill, child labour , sawmill industry, children, work practices , industrial work

Abstract

For a long time, industrial archaeology focused on built environment, but during recent decades, research has broadened to social phenomena and to people who lived and worked at the sites. The methods have broadened as well. In this article, the method used is documentary archaeology and the main source is the List of young persons who work at the sawmill 1910–1924. By using Varjakka sawmill as a case study we examine the work environment of children and adolescents in the beginning of the 20^th century. What kind of work did they conduct, in what kind of environment, and how old were they? Used theoretical view is the criteria of environmental child-friendliness. In the discussion we set the work of children and adolescents at the sawmills to its legislative frame.