where is the best source of information on history of children in
mines during industrial revolution?

Dear esposito1-ga 

The best source for information on the history of children in mines
during industrial revolution is from the Parliamentary Papers, 1842,
vols. XV-XVII. These contain the results of an investigation into the
conditions of labour in the mines made by Lord Ashley's Mines
Commission of 1842.  The papers contain the testimony of the children
and the mine owners.
The result of this commission was the Mines Act of 1842 which
prohibited the employment of all women and children under 10 years of
age underground.

These papers are available at the Public Record Office in Kew, UK.
However, a good university library should have them on microfilm.
Report of the 1842 Commission on the Employment of Mining Children
(British Parliamentary Papers 1842 Vols XV - XVII).
Public Record Office 
http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk/ExternalRequest.asp?RequestReference=ri2114

Fortunately there are extracts on the web of some of the testimonies
of the children and some good background information. I recommend the
following:

Testimony Gathered by Ashley's Mines Commission.
http://65.107.211.206/victorian/history/ashley.html

A discussion on child labor during the industrial revolution.
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist8.html

Women Miners in the English Coal Pits with testimony (includes
children)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1842womenminers.html

This site is aimed at secondary school level but contains images of
children in the mines and facsimiles of Ashley’s report (extracts).
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/victorianbritain/industrial/source4f.htm

Middlesex University – description of the events of 1840 with
discussion on Lord Ashley’s investigation. Testimonies, newspapers
reports and images.
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/ssh1840s.htm

Short testimony of a child aged 10.
http://www.norcol.ac.uk/departments/social_studies/sources/industry/evidence.html

Child labour in the mines - Taken from ‘The Condition of the Working
Class in England in 1844: Friedrich Engels (1845).’
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/adw03/peel/factmine/childmin.htm

Lord Ashley biography.
http://65.107.211.206/history/shaftesb.html

Speech by Lord Ashley on the children in the mines.
http://oassis.gcal.ac.uk/teaching/historyweb/cdromteaching/SOCIAL/text/childmin.htm

An examination of the stature of children at work in coal mining and
other occupations in 1842.
http://oassis.gcal.ac.uk/teaching/historyweb/cdromteaching/SOCIAL/text/1842.htm

Working condition in a Scottish pit. From a report on the “Employment
of Children & Young Persons iin the Mines and Collieries and Iron
Works in the West of Scotland and Treatment of such Children & Young
Persons”
http://www.mcpitz.com/conditions.html

Good overview of child labour in the industrial revolution.
http://www.eh.net/encyclopedia/tuttle.labor.child.britain.php

I found a couple of books on the subject.
Children in the Mines: Children's Employment Commission 1842: The
Evidence: the Lancashire Coalfield
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0951684361/qid=1049456771/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_2_3/202-2744150-6428640
Boys in the Pits: Child Labour in Coal Mines  Robert McIntosh. This
deals with the Canadian experience.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0773520937/qid=1049456890/sr=1-41/ref=sr_1_0_41/202-2744150-6428640


I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder

Search strategy
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"Parliamentary Papers 1842" evidence
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