Meat Packer Collection

Beef dressing at a Chicago abbatoir, 1908
3785010 Beef dressing at a Chicago abbatoir, 1908; (add.info.: Beef dressing at a Chicago abbatoir, 1908. Slaughterhouse owned by Swift and Company.); Lebrecht History

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING. A worker knocking out cattle with a hammer before they are slaughtered at the Swift and Company meatpacking house, Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1906

BEEF INDUSTRY, c1926. Cattle in the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1926

BEEF INDUSTRY, c1909. Cattle in the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1909

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING. Factory workers using the beef cutting machine at the Armour and Company meatpacking house, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1900-1910

HINE: MEAT PACKING, c1908. Workers, some of them young boys, leaving the Indianapolis Meat Packing House at noon time, Indianapolis, Indiana. Photograph by Lewis Hine, August c1908

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING, c1915. Workers trimming and skimming hams before pickling, in preparation for the market, at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1915

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING. Factory workers packing sliced bacon in glass jars at the Armour and Company meatpacking house, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois. Stereograph, c1909

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING. Workers cutting up hogs by hand and removing the hams and shoulders at the Swift and Company meatpacking house in Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING. Hanging room for hogs at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, Illinois. Wood engraving, American, 1878

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING, 1878. Cutting up hogs at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, Illinois. Wood engraving, American, 1878

CHICAGO: MEATPACKING, 1878. Cutting up beef cattle at a meatpacking plant in Chicago, Illinois. Wood engraving, American, 1878

CHICAGO: STOCKYARDS, 1868. Color engraving, 1868

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"Unveiling the Grit: A Glimpse into the Life of a Meat Packer in Chicago, 1878" Step back in time to the bustling meatpacking industry of Chicago in 1878. Witness the relentless work of meat packers as they skillfully cut up hogs at a plant, their hands moving swiftly with precision. This wood engraving captures their dedication and expertise. In another scene from this era, we find a worker using a hammer to knock out cattle before processing them. The power behind each strike echoes the strength required for this demanding job. These laborers were the backbone of an industry that fed countless families across America. Fast forward to c1926, where cattle fill every corner of Union Stock Yards in Chicago. This stereograph showcases the sheer magnitude and importance of beef production during this time period, and is here that dreams were realized and fortunes made. A similar stereograph from c1909 transports us once again to Union Stock Yards, revealing rows upon rows of majestic cattle awaiting their fate. Their presence symbolizes both livelihoods and sacrifice - an intricate dance between man and beast that shaped American history. The introduction of machinery revolutionized meatpacking factories like Armour's, depicted in yet another image from early 20th century Chicago. Workers skillfully operate beef cutting machines with unwavering focus, ensuring efficiency without compromising quality or safety standards. Meanwhile, young boys leave Indianapolis' meat packing facility captured by Hine's lens around c1908 - evidence that even children played a role within these arduous operations. Their departure signifies not only an end to their day but also serves as a reminder of how deeply ingrained this industry was within society. Moving forward to approximately 1915 brings us face-to-face with workers meticulously trimming and skimming hams before pickling them – attention to detail being paramount for preserving flavor and extending shelf life.