Working Americans 1900-2021: Vol. XVII: Teens In America

This first edition of Working Americans 1900-2021: Teens in America is the 17th volume in the popular Working Americans series. It profiles 32 American teenagers who had very different work experiences. It includes a sign painter, spiritual singer, paperboy, debutante, farmworker, Olympic medalist, candy striper, ice cream scooper, entrepreneur, barista, and more. Profiles span more than 120 years and observe the lives of diverse teenagers who represent a variety of locations and social backgrounds.

Like other volumes in this series, Teens in America is a compilation of original research— personal diaries, family histories —combined with government statistics, commercial advertisements, and news features. The profiles combine historical facts with historical fiction to create the individuals and families featured. The text is written in bulleted format, and hundreds of images offer strong visuals of the lives of teens at work. People covered include newspaper hawker Rory Walsh, candy striper Margaret Davis, fast food worker Ricky Voss, and writing center tutor Klara Olsson.

Each 12-15 page profile starts with a brief introduction and photograph of the subject, then moves to three bulleted sections.

• Life at Home what home life was like for these teenagers and their families—daily routines, what their house looked like, and what they ate.
• Life at Work details what it was like at their school and their job, be it after school or during the summer, including work environment, relationships with co-workers, and attitude of others.
• Life in the Community offers insight into the neighborhood these teens lived in, often with geographic and social history, as well as a sense of the area’s economy and recreational opportunities.

Some profiles include Changing America that offers a list of significant ways the teen’s job or industry they worked in has changed over the years.

Next are Historical Snapshots – interesting collections of firsts and significant events that happened in the year profiled. These are followed by Selected Prices – the cost of everyday items, from shoes to radios. Each chapter ends with Primary Documents – full reprints or excerpts of magazine and newspaper articles, letters, and diary entries about a variety of current events that adds historical context to the life of the profiled teen.

Following the profiles are nearly 200 pages of current reports and statistics that offer a detailed look at how today’s teens behave, from taking risks like drug use and distracted driving to the jobs they choose and the schools they attend. It also includes details about their social media habits, and how being part of a religious family affects their own religious habits. This material is organized into seven categories: Trends in Risky Behavior; Teen Drivers; Underage Drinking; Employment; Education & Diversity; Social Media Habits; and Religion. This title ends with Further Reading and an Index.

Like other volumes in this series, Teens in America is a compilation of original research – personal diaries, school files, and family histories – combined with government statistics, commercial advertisements, and news features. The profiles combine historical facts with historical fiction. In the case of actual events, some names and dates have been changed.

FREE ONLINE ACCESS
Buyers of the Working Americans, 1900-2021 - Vol. 17: Teens in America receive FREE ACCESS on the popular Grey House/Salem Press Platform, http://online.salempress.com. With unlimited users and remote access included, your students and researchers can now search this amazing collection of data, anytime & anywhere, all just a click away.