Heavy burdens on small shoulders: The invisible labour of children in Anglo pioneer farming families on the western Canadian prairies, 1871--1913

This dissertation focuses on revealing the role that children's work played in the operation of family farms in the western Canadian prairie region during the period of settlement between 1871 and 1913. The information used in the study was obtained from writings prepared by pioneer children during or in relation to the study period such as diaries, memoirs, letters and poems together with official records such as Census reports. This information expands our knowledge of the child labour involved in farming an undeveloped region where settlers had to overcome numerous geographic, climatic and financial obstacles if they wished to succeed. Many settlers managed to endure and prosper despite the obstacles that existed but it is evident that success was dependent on the availability of labour. The technology of the day determined that operations would be labour intensive rather than mechanized and thus created a scenario in which children's work could provide value and necessary assistance to the family farm.; Utilizing a socio-historical approach, this study reveals that children contributed to the operation of family farms in the prairie region for a variety of reasons, not least of which was their own personal survival. A typology of the work performed by children is developed and divisions by gender and age are discussed, but it is also noted that the economic importance of children's efforts was unrecognized, as had been the case with women's labour on family farms. Given the similar positions of women and children within the economic and power relations of farm families, it is argued that the theories developed to explain the role of women as economically invisible farmers may be extended to include farm children within their explanatory reach.