Irish Mailman c. 1920s

This photograph, "Irish Mailman", was taken by Lewis Hine, though the date is unknown. Hine was a progressive era photographer, and his images provide insights into the lives of working-class people at the turn of the century. The photograph depicts an older man in uniform, his mailbag slung over his shoulder, likely taken in an urban environment, perhaps New York City, given its large Irish immigrant population. The man's weary expression and the worn condition of his uniform and bag suggest the difficult conditions of working-class life. It is also worth noting the inscription on his hat - 800 - perhaps this could give us information about the local post office branch in which this mailman worked. We can use photographs like this to understand patterns of immigration, labor conditions, and the role of public service institutions in the early 20th century. Historians rely on photographs, census records, and other documents to reconstruct the past and to better understand the lived realities of ordinary people.