Cigar 2

Cigar Roller, 1890s

"I've been workin' since I was 15 at Mr. Salomon's cigar factory--so have my two brothers. I roll about 150 cigars a day for 68 cents. My three sisters work too, even my youngest sister Rosa who's just 15. They are all seamstresses. All of us help to support the family." 

-William Binder, white male, age 17

Photo captions: La Zoos cigar label, circa 1890s. Northern manufacturers adopted Spanish-sounding names to make fraudulent links between domestic cigars and the more sought after ones (KVM collection); Unidentified young man from 1890s (unknown collection); boys rolling cigars in Floriday, circa 1890  (Library of Congress collection).

To find more historic photographs and artifacts related to cigar making in Kalamazoo, visit KVM's searchable collections database.

A Job for Everyone
  1. Grocer, 1890s
  2. Dressmaker, 1890s
  3. Seamstress, 1890s
  4. Laborer, 1890s
  5. Carriage Builder, 1890s
  6. Cigar Roller, 1890s
  7. Launderer, 1900
  8. Corset Company Forelady, 1900
  9. Card Sorter, 1900
  10. Paper Mill, 1900
  11. Carriage Painter, 1900
  12. Foundry Worker, 1900
  13. Type Setter, 1910s
  14. Teacher, 1910s
  15. Elevator Operator, 1910s
  16. Metal Caster, 1910s
  17. Barber, 1910s
  18. Stationery Packer, 1910s
  19. Seamstress, 1910s
  20. Family Cook, 1920s
  21. Errand Girl, 1920s
  22. Janitor, 1920s
  23. Paper Beaterman, 1920s
  24. Hotel Bell Boy, 1920s