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See the introduction to this story, and the story of the other two boys
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| Harvey Schneider (left), 11 yrs old, Washington, DC, April 1912. photo by Lewis Hine. |
9 P.M. Gum vendors still
selling, near the National Theatre. Eli Marks, 505 4 1/2 St. S.W., (8 yrs. old, makes 25 cents a night.) Morris Marks, 10
yrs. old makes 50 cents a night. Harvey Schneider, 11 yrs. old, makes 50 cents a night, 209 -- 10th St. S.W. "When
they see us, they chase us home at 8:30, but when we see 'em coming we slid the boxes in our pockets, until the cop gets
past. Then we stay 'til - or after sometimes." Location: [Washington (D.C.), District of Columbia], April 1912, Lewis
Hine.
"I'm sure they were poor. His father died when he
was young. He only went as far as the eighth grade. He had problems with the English language, such as knowing the proper
verb to use with the proper subject, and that sort of thing. But he was a very versatile person, and very smart." -Catherine
Liggins, niece of Harvey Schneider
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According to various official documents, Harvey
Anthony Schneider was born in Washington, DC, on June 9, 1900, the oldest of four children of Anthony Schneider Jr., and Ida
Schneider. Anthony worked as a salesman, and later as a watchman. He died sometime between 1920 and 1930.
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| Harvey's WWI draft registration. |
By the time Harvey was 18 years old, he was working as
an apprentice plate printer, first for Berry & Whitmore, a well-known jewelry store that specialized in silver. In 1920,
he was working for the U.S Government Printing Office; and in 1930, he was working as an auto salesman. Shortly after, he
married Irene Fenton. They were to have no children.
In 1932, their niece, Catherine, was born, but four months later, her mother became seriously ill, and Catherine
went to live with her grandmother, Maggie Fenton. When Maggie died in 1939, Harvey and Irene took over the responsibility
of raising Catherine. Harvey worked in various jobs, and finally retired to a house in North Beach, Maryland. His wife, Irene,
died in 1970. Harvey died on February 7, 1972, at the age of 71.
With the help of Eddie Bloom, who posted several items of information on a family history website, I contacted niece
Catherine (Liggins), who lives in Virginia.
Interview with Harvey's niece
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