Boys' Eyeglasses


Figure 1.--This 1955-56 school photo shows a boy wearing two-tone glasses. He has a brightly colored ski sweater. He attended St. Johns Lutgeran School.

We have just begun to develop information on boys' eyeglasses. There are many images archived on HBC with boys wearing glasses. We know virtually nothing about eye glasses at this time. As far as we can tell, large numbers of children did not begin wearing eyeglasses until the late-19th century. We think the primary reason for this is that rising income levels meant that parents could afford to purchases glasses for te firsrt time. Also glasses became important as school became increasingly important for children. By the 19th century most children in Europe and North America were receiving at least a baic primary education. There were social stigmas associated with eyeglasses. Boys wearing glasses were called "four eyes" and considered less verile than other boys. By the teen years girls who wore dresses were considered booking or less attractive than girls without glassess. The old saw was "Boys do not make passes at girls who wear glasses." There are many different types of glassess and their popularity has varied over time. Wirerim frames were popular in the late-19th and early 20th century. A good example here is an English boy, HJ Whillockol about 1930. Another popular style were hornrims. These were originally made with turtle shell, but in the 20th century plastics were worn. There were turtle-shell colored plastics and well as black plastic frames. Both were commonly worn by boys. By the 1950s, girls were wearing very destinctive frames.

Historical Background

Eye glasses are a modern phenomenon. Archeologists have found no evidence that eye glassess were developed by any ancient civilization. There is, however, evidence of the existence of lenses at quite an early point. The earliest lens appears to have been found in ancient Nineveh. It was fashioned from polished rock crystal. We have several references in Greek letters to the use of lens and knowledge of the pronciples of magnification. The idea of applying these principles to fashion eye glasses. Also practical applications were limited because of the lack of technology for fashioning precise characteristics. There are several references in Greek letters. Aristophanes in "The Clouds" mentions a glass for burning holes in parchment and also mentions what he calls "burning glasses" for erasing wax tablets. Pliny mentions physicians using glass lens for cauterizing wounds. Ptolemy, one of Alexabder's generals, mentions the general principle of magnification. Not only has no evidence been found of eye glasses, but eyes glasses are not seen in ancient sculpture and paintings. writings also indicate that eye glasses did not exist. There is no mention of eye glasses in any ancient writings. Ptolemy makes it clear that the general principle of magnification; and lens were know to the Greeks. The technology for making lenses that could be used for precise magbification, howver, was not known. A letter found in Rome even provides positive indication that glasses had not been invented (100 BC). A Roman writes that he is resigned to old age, but complains that he can no longer read and has to depend on his slaves. The princleples of manification known to the Greeks was also clearly known to the Romans as well. The Roman philosopher Seneca is said to have read every book in Rome and that he was no to peer through a glass globe filled with water. Emperor Nero was known to use a polished emerald when watching the gladitorial games, but this seems to have been more about color than focus. After the fall of Rome much of the developing technology was lost in the West. Some sources credit the Chinese with the invention of eyeglasses (aboy the 1st cebtury AD). There is evidence, however, that Chinese spectecles had optical qualities. One source suggests that they were for protecting the eyes from evil spirits.

Chronology

Medieval Europeabd began using what they called "reading stones" (about 1000 AD). This was a primitive magnifying glass. It was a arched piece of glass that was laid flat on a page and magnified the writing. As reading at the time was primarily a chirch function. It is probable that it was develooed and used by monks. As far as we know, this was presumably the first optical reading aide. The Venetians were known for their glass work. Thus it is no surprise that they produced the first glass for reading stones as well as the earliest lenses used as readinf aides. The Venetian lenses were set in frames and thus for the first time lens were heald in front of the eyes rather than laid down on the page. The first known eye glasses or spectacles with corrective lenses appearwd in late-medieval Europe. The actual inventor of eye glasses and just when is lost to history. We note Roger Bacon abd other authors describing spectacles (13th century). And we see artistic representations (14th century). These early desriptions and artistuc representations deal with magnification and for elderly men, not women and children). We are not yet sure when the first child is depicted wearing glasses. As far as we can tell, large numbers of children did not begin wearing eyeglasses until the late-19th century. We do not think that eye problems have become more common. Rather we think that both family affluence and medical science have improved. We think the primary reason for this is that rising income levels meant that parents could afford to purchases glasses for te firsrt time. Also glasses became important as school became increasingly important for children. By the 19th century most children in Europe and North America were receiving at least a basic primary education. Beginning about the 1970s, contact lessons becm to become popular. We are not entirely surewhat age was seen as appropriate for contacts.

Negative Image

There were social stigmas associated with eyeglasses. Boys wearing glasses were called "four eyes" and considered less verile than other boys. By the teen years girls who wore dresses were considered booking or less attractive than girls without glassess. The old saw was "Boys do not make passes at girls who wear glasses."

Eye Glass Types

There are several many different types of glassess and their popularity has varied over time. We see monacles, pince-nez, eye glasses, and contact lens. Monacles were rarely worn by boys. This was an eye glass time more reserved for aristocrats and Prussian junkers. Prinz-nez were double lens eye glasses, but without the arms for support over the ears. We see a few boys wearing them in the 19th century, but not very many. A good exanple is an unidentified New York boy, we think in the late 1880s. Standard eye glasses had two lens and supporting arms. They are often calld spectacles. This was the type most commonly worn by boys. We note many different styles. Wire rim frames were popular in the late-19th and early 20th century. A good example here is an English boy, HJ Whillockol about 1930. Another popular style were hornrims. These were originally made with turtle shell, but in the 20th century plastics were worn. There were turtle-shell colored plastics and well as black plastic frames. Both were commonly worn by boys. Plastic lens began to replace glass in the 1970s. At the same time we begin to see contact lenses.

Gender

Girls have not always worn destinctove glasses, but that is now the general convention. We do not see a lot of children wearing glasses in the 19th century. Gradually as the century progresses we begin to see a few more than earlier in the century. Here we think both improved heath care and rising income levels were involved. Expanding school attendance was probably another factor. Thus we see far more girls wearing glasses in the 20th century. The children that we do see wearing glasses are wearing essentially gender neutral styles. Wire frames seem very common. The styles worn by both boys and girls seem to be the same. A good example are the glasses worn by an unidentified American girl about 1890. The same continues to be true in the early 20th century. We are not sure when destinctive girl glasses begin to become fashionable. We think it was promarily after World War I. We certainly see destinctive girl glasses by the 1950s. We see American girls were wearing very destinctive frames. We have less information on other countries.

Country Trends

We have noted boys wearing variously styled eye glasses in different couuntries. Many eyglass styles were multinnational. The time-line and popularity of the different styles, however, varied from country to country. And some styles did not appear in every country. There seem to be some differences between Europe and America than individual Europen country styles. Here we do not yet have a large enough archive to develop notable countrt trends. We have begun to collect images to develop informatioin on country trends.








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Created: 4:55 AM 8/26/2008
Last updated: 7:52 PM 10/9/2008