Men at Work: The Empire State Building and the Untold Story of the Craftsmen Who Built It

Men at Work: The Empire State Building and the Untold Story of the Craftsmen Who Built It uncovers the previously unknown identities of the construction workers who appear in Lewis W. Hine’s iconic photographs. For almost one hundred years, these “anonymous” workers have illustrated the heroic tale of the Empire State’s record-breaking construction and have served as symbols of America’s determination in the midst of the Great Depression. Now, for the first time, we learn the names and real-life histories of these ordinary men who built the world’s most famous skyscraper.

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“Delving into census data, immigration and union records, contemporary newspaper accounts and the personal recollections of their descendants, Kurtz illuminates Hine’s images in new ways, conjuring backstories of men who, as he puts it, “until now, have been used solely as the embodiments of generalities and abstract ideals.” —Catherine Slessor, The Guardian (Dec. 1, 2025)

“[Men at Work] adds biographical details and dimensions to Lewis Hine’s heroic photographs of the skyscraper’s construction process.” —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker (Nov. 9, 2025)