We use them to grip, to hold, to guide. A photo essay in honor of the American worker.
We use them to grip, to hold, to guide. A photo essay in honor of the American worker.
Can a Person's Hands Reveal Their Job?
ByBinyamin Appelbaumandphotographs by Damon WinterSept. 6, 2020
Helen Keller was a careful student of hands.Blind and deaf, she apprehended the world through her hands, and she took the measure of other people through their hands. She read in hands what others read in faces.
Mark Twain’s hand,she wrote in 1905, “is full of whimsies and the drollest humors.” Other hands were more surprising: “A bishop with a jocose hand; a humorist with a hand of leaden gravity; a man of pretentious valor with a timorous hand.”
Indeed, Keller said hands were more honest than faces: We may compose our faces, but our hands speak open and unconscious truths. Keller could feel the differences others see, as between the soft, lacquer-tipped hands of a banker and the rough, oil-stained hands of a mechanic. But she found deeper manifestations of character in the movement of hands. “I have clasped the hands of some rich people that spin not and toil not, and yet are not beautiful,” she wrote. “Beneath their soft, smooth roundness what a chaos of undeveloped character.” Hands were windows on the soul.
The hands here tell the stories of American workers. We see both commonality and diversity.  Everyone works with their hands, and their hands testify to the nature of their labors.
Valerie Wilsonis a registered nurse and clinical coordinator at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., where she has worked for 21 years.See More
Valerie Wilson
Nurse,21 years
Valerie Wilsonis a registered nurse and clinical coordinator at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., where she has worked for 21 years.
Vasily Livitskiyhas worked finishing furniture at the Stickley furniture factory in Manlius, N.Y., for 27 years.
Vasily Livitskiy
Furniture finisher,27 years
Vasily Livitskiyhas worked finishing furniture at the Stickley furniture factory in Manlius, N.Y., for 27 years.
Lisa Heidelbergis the head chef for a personal chef and catering service that she has owned and operated for almost six years. Ms. Heidelberg has been cooking for her family as a single mother for over 20 years.See More
Lisa Heidelberg
Chef,6 years
Lisa Heidelbergis the head chef for a personal chef and catering service that she has owned and operated for almost six years. Ms. Heidelberg has been cooking for her family as a single mother for over 20 years.
James Russellhas been working at an Amazon distribution center as a trainer/specialist and industrial vehicle operator for three months. He has operated industrial equipment such as forklifts for the past 15 years, most recently for DHL and The Limited.See More
James Russell
Equipment operator,15 years
James Russellhas been working at an Amazon distribution center as a trainer/specialist and industrial vehicle operator for three months. He has operated industrial equipment such as forklifts for the past 15 years, most recently for DHL and The Limited.
Craig Odellhas owned and operated Total Auto Care in Homer, N.Y., for 45 years. He does much of the mechanical work himself.See More
Craig Odell
Auto mechanic,45 years
Craig Odellhas owned and operated Total Auto Care in Homer, N.Y., for 45 years. He does much of the mechanical work himself.
Maria Buckhas been working as a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton, N.Y., for three years.
Maria Buck
Housekeeper,3 years
Maria Buckhas been working as a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton, N.Y., for three years.
Justine Bakerhas been in banking for 22 years and recently began working as vice president of Ohio State Bank, a new financial institution in Ohio.See More
Justine Baker
Banker,22 years
Justine Bakerhas been in banking for 22 years and recently began working as vice president of Ohio State Bank, a new financial institution in Ohio.
Quhan Knightwas in his first year at Pittsburgh Technical College studying design when his school closed because of the pandemic. He has transferred to the Erie Institute of Technology and is starting his own business doing graphic design, music videos and photography.See More
Quhan Knight
Designer and student,1 year
Quhan Knightwas in his first year at Pittsburgh Technical College studying design when his school closed because of the pandemic. He has transferred to the Erie Institute of Technology and is starting his own business doing graphic design, music videos and photography.
Devon Luomahas been working at the Cargill Salt Mine in Lansing, N.Y., for four years. He is on the crew that maintains the mine shafts, including a nearly 100-year-old timber-supported shaft.
Devon Luoma
Salt miner,4 years
Devon Luomahas been working at the Cargill Salt Mine in Lansing, N.Y., for four years. He is on the crew that maintains the mine shafts, including a nearly 100-year-old timber-supported shaft.
Ron Salazarreceived fourth-degree burns on his right hand, chest and leg in an accident while cleaning a coke oven door at the U.S. Steel plant in Clairton, Ohio, in 2017. He has gone through several rounds of surgery and has been on disability for over three years. Mr. Salazar worked for U.S. Steel for 11 years.
Ron Salazar
Steelworker,11 years
Ron Salazarreceived fourth-degree burns on his right hand, chest and leg in an accident while cleaning a coke oven door at the U.S. Steel plant in Clairton, Ohio, in 2017. He has gone through several rounds of surgery and has been on disability for over three years. Mr. Salazar worked for U.S. Steel for 11 years.
Robert Mitchell Jr.worked at the General Electric factory in Erie, Pa., for five years before he was laid off. He worked as a casino slot machine technician and then a car wash maintenance technician. He fell and injured his ankle and has been on disability for over a year.See More
Robert Mitchell Jr.
Technician,5 years
Robert Mitchell Jr.worked at the General Electric factory in Erie, Pa., for five years before he was laid off. He worked as a casino slot machine technician and then a car wash maintenance technician. He fell and injured his ankle and has been on disability for over a year.
Onna Jean Votrahas worked as a bus driver for the Homer Central School District in New York for 14 years. She has also run a custom embroidery business.
Onna Jean Votra
School bus driver,14 years
Onna Jean Votrahas worked as a bus driver for the Homer Central School District in New York for 14 years. She has also run a custom embroidery business.
Resean Hueshas been working for two years as a painter with Flatiron Management in Ithaca, N.Y. He has been painting since he was 15 years old.
Resean Hues
Painter,36 years
Resean Hueshas been working for two years as a painter with Flatiron Management in Ithaca, N.Y. He has been painting since he was 15 years old.
Musa Petersonhas been cutting hair for 47 years. He recently started working at Supreme Cuts in Ithaca, N.Y.
Musa Peterson
Barber,47 years
Musa Petersonhas been cutting hair for 47 years. He recently started working at Supreme Cuts in Ithaca, N.Y.
Larry Brannonbought the Owasco Meat Company in Moravia, N.Y., in 1974 when he was 26 years old after graduating from Cornell University’s agriculture school. He has been packing meat there for 46 years. Mr. Brannon handles retail meat packing as well as slaughter and processing services for area farms.See More
Larry Brannon
Meatpacker,46 years
Larry Brannonbought the Owasco Meat Company in Moravia, N.Y., in 1974 when he was 26 years old after graduating from Cornell University’s agriculture school. He has been packing meat there for 46 years. Mr. Brannon handles retail meat packing as well as slaughter and processing services for area farms.
Mikel-Bryan Ottis unemployed. He was in his freshman year at Gannon University, studying accounting and sports management, when the pandemic closed the university.See More
Mikel-Bryan Ott
Unemployed,1 year
Mikel-Bryan Ottis unemployed. He was in his freshman year at Gannon University, studying accounting and sports management, when the pandemic closed the university.
Jeffrey Madisonhas worked for 20 years for Remington Arms, a gun manufacturer in Ilion, N.Y. He started as a machinist and has worked for the past 13 years as a toolmaker, making the fixtures and gauges used in the manufacturing of intricate parts.
Jeffrey Madison
Gun toolmaker,13 years
Jeffrey Madisonhas worked for 20 years for Remington Arms, a gun manufacturer in Ilion, N.Y. He started as a machinist and has worked for the past 13 years as a toolmaker, making the fixtures and gauges used in the manufacturing of intricate parts.
Jason Wileyhas been a member of the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters for 21 years and has been pouring concrete since he was 13 years old. He teaches concrete form construction at a training center in Columbus, Ohio.See More
Jason Wiley
Carpenter,21 years
Jason Wileyhas been a member of the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters for 21 years and has been pouring concrete since he was 13 years old. He teaches concrete form construction at a training center in Columbus, Ohio.
Mike Kentis the knife and tool sharpener at River’s Edge Cutlery in Hilliard, Ohio, which he has owned and operated for 17 years.See More
Mike Kent
Sharpener,17 years
Mike Kentis the knife and tool sharpener at River’s Edge Cutlery in Hilliard, Ohio, which he has owned and operated for 17 years.
Chuck Burgesshas worked as a coal miner for 27 years, doing almost every job at the mine over the years. He currently works as a mechanic for Cumberland Coal Resources in western Pennsylvania, his employer of 11 years.See More
Chuck Burgess
Coal miner,27 years
Chuck Burgesshas worked as a coal miner for 27 years, doing almost every job at the mine over the years. He currently works as a mechanic for Cumberland Coal Resources in western Pennsylvania, his employer of 11 years.
Fredy Velasquezhas been working as a farmhand at Fouts Farm, a dairy farm in Cortland, N.Y., for nine years.See More
Fredy Velasquez
Farmhand,9 years
Fredy Velasquezhas been working as a farmhand at Fouts Farm, a dairy farm in Cortland, N.Y., for nine years.
Paul Foutsis the third-generation owner and operator of Fouts Farm, a dairy farm in Cortland, N.Y. He joined a partnership with his parents as a co-owner in 1995.See More
Paul Fouts
Farm owner,25 years
Paul Foutsis the third-generation owner and operator of Fouts Farm, a dairy farm in Cortland, N.Y. He joined a partnership with his parents as a co-owner in 1995.
Donte Allenhas worked as a courier and assistant manager with Fedex for the past 15 years. In normal times he works three other jobs: as an English teacher at a Chinese school, a charcuterie chef at a farm-to-table restaurant and a logistics manager at a Japanese electronics company.See More
Donte Allen
Courier,15 years
Donte Allenhas worked as a courier and assistant manager with Fedex for the past 15 years. In normal times he works three other jobs: as an English teacher at a Chinese school, a charcuterie chef at a farm-to-table restaurant and a logistics manager at a Japanese electronics company.
Purba Majumderhas been a software professional for 25 years and has been the president of Cybervation Inc., a software development, I.T. and medical staffing company, for 10 years. She is the founder of CoolTechGirls, a nonprofit that encourages girls to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.See More
Purba Majumder
Software professional,25 years
Purba Majumderhas been a software professional for 25 years and has been the president of Cybervation Inc., a software development, I.T. and medical staffing company, for 10 years. She is the founder of CoolTechGirls, a nonprofit that encourages girls to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Sarah Jones, a mother of four children, has been working as a licensed massage therapist at Rasa Spa in Ithaca, N.Y., for over four years.See More
Sarah Jones
Massage therapist,4 years
Sarah Jones, a mother of four children, has been working as a licensed massage therapist at Rasa Spa in Ithaca, N.Y., for over four years.
Josh Warrenis in the first year of his four-year carpenter apprenticeship through the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters. Mr. Warren entered the program straight out of high school and specializes in concrete form construction.See More
Josh Warren
Apprentice carpenter,1 year
Josh Warrenis in the first year of his four-year carpenter apprenticeship through the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters. Mr. Warren entered the program straight out of high school and specializes in concrete form construction.
Thao Ly Phamhas been working as a cosmetologist for 16 years and currently works at a nail salon in Canandaigua, N.Y. She also travels around the country teaching nail care techniques.See More
Thao Ly Pham
Cosmetologist,16 years
Thao Ly Phamhas been working as a cosmetologist for 16 years and currently works at a nail salon in Canandaigua, N.Y. She also travels around the country teaching nail care techniques.
Damon Winter is a staff photographer on assignment in Opinion.Designed and Developed by Eleni Agapis