Photograph of Coal Miner Boy in USA from Early
Second, the pick axe he is holding is too big for him to work with in a coal mine. The boy also has a tobacco pipe in his mouth and more importantly, the background of the photograph looks like a photo studio. So, unlike the claim what you see is most probably a novelty photograph of the little boy dressed as a coal miner. In those times, it is common practice to dress kids with props