Beaterman

Paper Beaterman, 1920s

"Right after the war I went to work at Hawthorne Paper Company. I've been one of their beatermen for a year now. It's a tough job. If I don't make sure the paper fibers are the right consistency, the paper will turn out too thin or too thick. It takes time to learn if you're making it right. I make 3 dollars a day and work 6 days a week. Sunday is my day with family--I have a wife and 5 kids at home."

- Silas Findley, white male, age 36

Captions: Interior Kalamazoo paper mill, 1920 (KVM collection); John Bushhouse, Monarch Paper Comapny, Kalamazoo, 1927 (KVM collection); stirring paper pulp in a large vat (Library of Congress collection).

To find more historic photographs and artifacts related to paper 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