Illinois Committee on Employment of Youth records, 1940-1963

Old Resource ID was EmploymentOfYouth

Established in 1919, The Illinois Child Labor Committee was a non-profit organization that rallied for the protection and welfare of all children in relations to employment and education. The group brought together both individuals and organizations interested in improving child labor laws in Illinois. The goal was to provide effective enforcement of laws in order to protect children from losing educational opportunities and to prevent them from working in hazardous occupations that would be detrimental to their health and welfare.

By 1945 the committee was successful in obtaining the passage of state legislation that would require protection for the employment of children under the age of sixteen, especially those employed by bowling alleys as pinsetters and on the golf courses as caddies. Around the same time, the Illinois Department of labor was re-organized with personnel willing to enforce the child labor statute.

The Illinois Child Labor Committee was a member of the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Chicago and a cooperating agency in the Illinois Commission on Children. The organization received endorsement from the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry and allotments from the Community Fund of Chicago.

In 1952, the Commission became an inactive agency without paid staff due to insufficient funding; however, the organization retained its charter. In 1955, the Welfare Council conducted an intensive study of the Commission. The recommendation following the study was to reorganize the agency with the aid of a professional staff person and clerical assistant. The study highlighted the efforts made by the organization when it was an active agency that protected the existing child labor law and provided a medium for the expression of public interest in enforcement of the statute. The delegate body of the Commission voted to accept the recommendation and laid the groundwork to effect permanent status.

In 1957, the by-laws were revised to replace the volunteer executive committee with an elected board of directors who would be responsible for the operations of the agency. The following committees resulted from the board: executive, finance and budget, nominating, public relations, and legislative. In January 1960, the name was legally changed from the Illinois Child Labor Committee to the Illinois Committee on Employment of Youth. The organization continues to exist formally, but is inactive.

The Illinois Committee on Employment of Youth collection includes annual reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, minutes, reports, financial records, legislative information, speaking engagements, administrative papers, fliers, vouchers, lists, literature, charts, questionnaires, auditor's reports, speeches, newsletters, statistical reports, leaflets, directories, pamphlets, bulletins, and reprints.

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Illinois Committee on Employment of Youth records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

• NamesIllinois Commission on Employment of Youth. -- Archives
• Subject
  • Chicago Political and Civic Life.
  • Child labor--Law and legislation.
• Geographic CoverageIllinois.