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The PCCB was established in 1907. We do not have images from the early years of the Choir so our information on the uniforms over time is very limited. They may not have had a uniform at first. We do not have much information about the early uniforms. A reader tells us that the boys at first wore Scout uniforms. The Choir and the Scouting movement were founded at about the sane time. We have more information on the more modern eras.The choir initially had a kind of Scouting uniform for secular performances, but this was changed to the current uniform of navy blue sweaters and short pants during World War II. From the beginning they have worn a white alb for religious celebrations.
The PCCB was established in 1907. We are not sure what the boys wore when the Choir was first founded. They may not have had a uniform at first. We do not have much information about the early uniforms. A reader tells us that the boys at first wore Scout uniforms. The Choir and the Scouting movement were founded at about the sane time. At some point they did begin wearing a destinctive uniform. A French reader tells us, "Untill 1940-42 the boys wore two costumes for performances. They wore a kind of Scouting uniform for secular performances which often included traditional songds and a white alb for religious services." I don't think they wore this Scouting uniform in 1907 when the Choir was founded. We are not sure precisely when the Choir began wearing a Scout uniform. The Scout-like uniform was probably chosen because of the popularity of Scouting in the early 20th century. While it was a Scout uniform, because of the age of the boys was the Cub (" Louveteau ") uniform. It consisted of a blue shirt, blue sweater, dark blue short pants, a Scout-style belt with a buckle, and grey kneesock. A neckerchief in particular gave the uniform a Scout-like look. There was a pin worn on the sweater, but I am not sure what the original pin was like. The Choir adopted a red, white, and blue pin like a French flag with a cross in the middle white section. This pin was worn on their sweatets. The boys also had caps. The French Cub cap at the time was a peaked cap like the ones worn by English Cubs and schoolbpys. I'm not sure if the boys wore these caps or perhaps beteys.
The Choir in its early years was a virtually unknown group. The boys did not board. They lived at home and went to different schools, both Catholic and secular. They came to the Manécanerie in their every day clothes. The chant took place each evening and also all Thursday. On Sunday they sang in different churches. The Choir began planning Scouting activities for the boys during the Summer as a reward for their hard work. As a result, a Scouting uniform became their normal dress or secular uniform. From the very beginning the Choir appears to have worn the white alb that they have become associated with and has influenced other French choirs. The white alb was worn when singing holy chants for religious ceremonies and observations. At the time, the use of the white alb was an innnovation in the Church.
When the Germans moved toward Paris, Abbe Maillet took the boys and fleed south. This made the Choir by the force of the circunstances a boarding group. This meant that money was needed. Monseigneur Maillet had to pay for food, garments, teachers, travel ect. Mgr Maillet was a patriot and anticomminist. He decided to take the choir to the Americas. He probably had a range of motives here. One was to keep the boys out of NAZI hands. Another was to earn some money to support a boarding choir. They went to America and gave performances to earn money not only in the United States, but Canada and Souyth America as well. The performances were very successfull. The boys were a very accomplished choir, unlike any group in America at the time. They charmed the audiences and families that welcomed them. Many Americans wanted to adopt them. The uniform the boys wore was still the Scout-styled uniform. Eventually Abbe Maillet decided to bring the boys back to France even though it was still occupied by the Germans.
The Choir changed the secular uniform in 1943. Abbe Maillet had this idea when he came back to Paris after taking the choir on a tour of the Americas. I think the Choir returned in 1943. I'm not sure what month. The Choir settled in Paris at E. Flachat. By this time the Germans had occupied the Vichy zone which had been unoccupied. Paris was a natural location as the biys were from Paris and their families located there. After returning several new boys joined the Choir. L'abbé Maillet ( he was still priest in this time ) decided to adopt a new uniform. The uniform he chose had a more formal look with a slightly juvenil touch.
I am not sure why he decided to change the uniform. A French reader tells us that this was a style used in some Catholic schools in France at the time. It seems likely that Abbe Malliet was bringing his Choir and boarding school in line with other Catholic schools at the time. We also note that this was during the World War II German occupation. We suspect that the Germans who banned Scouting were responsible. Here we are unsure. A French reader tells us that while Scouting activities were suspended in the occupied zone, that boys would not uncommonly wear their Scout uniforms on occassions such as attending church. Scouting was still permitted in Vichy. The Choir was, however, located in Paris which was in the German occupied zone. The Choir may have changed the uniform so the boys would not be mistaken for Scouts. The German authorities allowed the Choir to travel to the Reich so they could visit the camps where French POWs and conscript workers were interned (March-April 1943). A French reader tells us that the boys were still wearing the old Scout-like uniform. Our French reader points out, "Actually Scouti-like uniforms were rather encouraged in France. Several youth organisations were even created by the Vichy authority with a sort of scout uniform." HBU has begun to collect information on French youth groups during World war II.
The new uniform chose by Abbe Malliet for the choristers was a white or light blue shirt worn open at the collar, navy blue sweater, navy blue short pants, and white kneesocks. The sweaters had the PCCB pin done in the red, white, and blue colors of the French flag. Their pants were no longer worn with a Scout like belt, meaning a belt buckle with a metal clasps. The uniform was worn with black leather lace up shoes.
The boys had a short blue coat for Winter wear.
This style was in vogue at the time for Catholic schools for boys 10-16 years of age. This uniform was quickly adopted by other French schools and after the War practiclly all boy choir in France as well as other countries.
This new uniform has changed little over time, but has always been blue. The boys wore black mocassin-style shoes. There have been few changes to the uniform adopted in 1942. The boys until the 1980s quite often wore a navy blue beret. Now there is no official headwear. The only other change in the uniform over time has been the length of the short pants. The shorts were quite long in the 1940s, shorter in 1950s-70s and again longer in the 1990s-2000s. The length of the shorts essentially follows the popular vogue. The modern uniform looks very much like the uniform when the new uniform was first adopted in the 1940s. The white alb when adopted by the Choir was an innovation (1907). It has since become widely worn. Eventually Pope Pius XII recognized the Pueri Cantores de Monseigneur Maillet (1949). During this meeting 3,000 boys , all in white alb were present and sang together in Rome. ince the white alb was permit also for altar boyy. Eventually the white alb came to be also used for First Communion in France.
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