Figure 1.--This family portrait was taken in 1904. It was taken by C. Swwet and published by the Glasgow Photo-Engraving Company. We assume the compny was located in Scotland, but we are not sure. The family has a bit of an American look to us.

We have just begun to build a page on Scottish families. We do not yet have much information. These family sections are helpful because they not only illustrate boys clothing, but the clothing worn by other members of the family, girls and adults. They arewinderful time capsules documenting period fashions. fashion And since various members of the family are in these portraits, they are time capsules showing what types of clothing was worn at any given time. The family also provide valuable documentation and insights into social trends.

The 19th Century

Markinch Family (Mid-1890s)

Here we see unidentified Scottish children, almost certsinly brother and sister. All we know about the portrait is that it was taken in Lahead View, Markinch. That seems to be a town near St. Andrews. The children look to be about 6 and 8 years of age. The girl wers a long dress with an elaborate collar. She has something in her lap, perhaps flowers. The boy wears a cut-away jacket with military cuffs, an Eton coolar, and kilt. She wears button shoes, he wears strap shoes. strap shoes were not uncommonly worn with kilts for a formsl outfit. As the photogrpher received an award in 1893, we know the portrait was made sometime after 1893, probably about 1895.

Dundee Middle-class Family (about 1890)

Here we have a wonderful studio portrait of a young middle-class Scottish family. The portrait was taken in Dundee, so we can assume they were from Dundee or the surronding area. The portrait is no dated, but we would guess it was taken about 1890, either the late 1880s or early 90s. There are three children, two boys and an infant. The youngest boy about 2 years old and wears a fancy kilt outfit. The other boy looks to be about 6 years old and wears a rather adult-looking long pants suit. The suggestion here is that the kilt outfit was seen to be suitable for only the very youngest children. I'm not sure how common this convention was. It probably varied as to where one lived in Scotland as well as chrologically. Dundee is locted north of the Firth of Fourth, I think is seem as on the perifery of the Highlands.

The 20th Century

Glasgow Family (1904)

This family portrait was taken in 1904. It was taken by C. Swwet and published by the Glasgow Photo-Engraving Company (figure 1). We assume the compny was located in Scotland, but we are not sure. The family has a bit of an American look to us. The print dealer handling this image tells us that it was definitely published in the United Kingdom, so it seems it was probably Scottish. The children wear white frocks, the older ones with black long stockings. Their hair is done similarly, one with a large hair bow. The hair seems more British than American. American children were more likely to have their hair done in tight ringlets than the looser ringlets seen here. Unfortunately the family and children are not identified. The children are probably girls, but we are not at all sure. Mother also wears a light-colored dress, but much longer and with extensive detailing.

Scottish Military Family (1909)

Here we see a British soldier and his four sons, all dressed alike. I am not positive, but I think the father is an enlisted man. The family is unidentified, but the Glengary caps strongly suggest that they are Scottish. The portrait was taken in 1909. A reader suggests that the boys are wearing a school military uniform, but Britain did not have military schools for children as was the case in America. Militry schools are an important part of private education in Americam quite a number of private boarding schools in America are military schools. This is not the case in Britain. An exception was a few orphanage-like schools for the children of enlistd men. I think the children were simply all dressed alike, a not uncommon convention at the time. Notice the metal buckle on the military belt that the boys all wear, that does give a uniform look to the boys' outfits. Notice that they are worn over their sweaters--meaning there was no practical purpose for the belts. There appears to be interesting age-grading in this photo. Only the youngest boy, about 6, wears short socks with his knee pants. The older boys who seem to range from about 8 to 10 or 11 all wear black long stockings. Apparently it was considered improper for boys older than 6 to have exposed knees. Notice the Eton collars.

Prosperous Glasgow Family: The Lennox's (1910s)

This is a wonderful image from the past. It was taken in Scotland at C. Mitchell photographic studio in Glasgow. The two boys are both dressed in Highland kilt outfits. They have Glengary caps with eagle feathers, ather smnall Eton collars, bow ties, cut-away jackets, Kilts, sporrans, knee socks (I think Argyles), and sandals with mock buckles. This is ine of numerous images showing that boys in well-to-to families dressed up in kilts for formal occassions such as a portrait. What we are less sure about is how these boys dressed for more cassual activities, such as play, casual outings, family dinner, and school. Unfortunately we do not know their first names. As can be seen, the original board was trimmed at one point, probably it was in a frame at one time. We do know that they were 9 and 12 years old. On the back, the first names in the trimming process were pretty well trimmed away, but the family last name looks like "Lennox" to me written in old script and that would make sense as Lennox is a Scottish name. The portrait is not dated, but the style of the photo mount and Mum in her fashionable large hat and ankle-covering skirt suggests the 1910s to us. Note father's bowler hat and gloves. The mount measures 8"x 7", with the actual photo image measuring approx. 6"x 4.25".

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing kilt pages:
[Main kilt page]
[Kilt suits] [Scottish kilts] [Scottish boys clothing]
[Scottish school uniform] [Highland dance] [Pipeband]
[Irish kilts] [Irish boys clothing] [Irish step dancing]
[Greek kilts]

Created: 6:52 PM 6/6/2006
Last updated: 9:07 PM 10/9/2008