Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2021/Fall/Section018/Jonn H. Abner

Overview

Mr.John H. Abner was a cotton mill worker who was interviewed by Joseph A. Micheals on November 15th, 1938 about his experiences of working after the great depression.

Biography

Mr.John H. Abner, interviewed by Joseph A. Micheals on November 15th, 1938, was a cotton mill worker who was born in Burke County, North Carolina in 1868. Mr.Abner had worked in the cotton mill industry for 50 years until he was laid off at 68 years old due to the Social Security Act of 1935, which required all individuals to retire at age 65. Like Joseph A. Micheals, many elderly people were at a loss for work which presented many economic hardships. For Mr.Abner, this meant working on his son's farm illegally to accumulate funds. In addition to Mr.Abner’s occupation, he was a father of eleven children and was a christian. While life was difficult for Mr.Abner, he thoroughly enjoyed his children, religion, and even occupation.

The Cotton Mill Industry

During the Great Depression, many cotton mill workers were let off due to the declining economy. One of the main problems is that Cotton Mill owners decided to decrease the labor without increased pay for the now fewer workers that were expected to produce the same amount of product. With more implementations such as Social Security act of 1935, the cotton mill industry began to decline even more with fewer workers and lower pay.

Social Issues

Great Depression

The great depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place during the 1930s. It was a result of the stock market crash of 1929, which sent Wallstreet into panic and wiped millions of investors. The great depression had various effects on social, political, and economic institutions.

While the great depression had severe effects on the economy, it was acts like the Social Security act of 1935 that would affect individuals like Mr. Abner. The social security act provided general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, disabled, and any disadvantaged Americans.

Bibliography

"Federal Social Security Act, August 1935." Monthly Labor Review (Pre-1986) 41, no. 000003 (09, 1935): 570. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/federal-social-security-act-august-1935/docview/227886458/se-2?accountid=14244.

U.S. Unemployed, in March of Time, Volume 3, Episode 10. Anonymous 1937. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/audio-video-works/u-s-unemployed-march-time-volume-3-episode-10/docview/1822948619/se-2?accountid=14244.

"THE 1929 SPECULATION AND TODAY'S TROUBLES: CONTROVERSY AS TO HOW FAR THE "GREAT BOOM" CAUSED THE GREAT DEPRESSION." New York Times (1923-),1932. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/1929-speculation-todays-troubles/docview/99769754/se-2?accountid=14244.

"Old-Age Benefit Information for Employers, Workers: Federal Board Explains Age Pensions Plan Describes how it is Proposed to Pay Workers on Retirement at 65 Tax Begins at 1 Per Cent Rises Later to 3 Per Cent which is the Maximum." New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962), Nov 06, 1936. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/old-age-benefit-information-employers-workers/docview/1240509094/se-2?accountid=14244.

"FINDS COTTON INDUSTRY IS NOT OVEREXPANDED: EXPERT SEES PROFITABLE OPERATION FOR THE MILLS WHICH SURVIVE THE DEPRESSION." New York Times (1923-), May 17, 1932. http://libproxy.lib.unc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/finds-cotton-industry-is-not-overexpanded/docview/99661805/se-2?accountid=14244.