Figure 1.-- Here we see a snapshot of a suburban 4th of July celebration in 1959 with three girls all dressed up: Sally, Ellen, and Cindy. There are two boys with them, but they are not named. The girls are dressed up for a parade and one of the boys wears a white jacket as part of the costuming. Put your cursor on the image for another view.

We see very few 4th of July images in the 19th century. It was not that the 4th of July was not celebrated, it was because most of the photograophic record was studio photography. And only a few mothers (the primary parent involved in children's photography) wanted a 4th if July theme. We see few studio portraits with flags or other July 4 indicators. With the turn of he century and the advent of the Kodak Briwnie we suddenly see July 4 celebrations. With family snapshots and we begin to see how Americans celebrate the 4th, like the children here on the previous page. We see countless 4th of July images from the beginning of the century. It was popular with children because of the parades, picnics, and more than anything, the fireworks. Of course as a summer vacation, there was no school holiday, but the firewoks more than made up for that. Congress reaffirmed it as a paid holiday for federal employees (1938). And President Roosevelt declared it a national holiday, just before America was plunged into World War II. Americans today continue to celebrate the 4th in many of the same ways that they have done for over two centuries. It is a summer holiday with parades, bands, firework, and picnics. There are big city and small town parades in which children such as Scouts and Cubs take place. We see suburban children in the 1950s staging their own parade as seen on the previous page. Gradually municipal governmenr began addresing the dangers of fire works for children. I'm glad this all occurrd aftr my childhood as that was an annual highlight of my youth--setting off fire works. I enjoyed the setting off more than big fireworks displays. And although backyard fireworks have been banned in many places because of the danger to children, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for everyone to see and enjoy. Particularly prominent are waving flags and patriotic music like the 'Star-Spangled Banner' and the stiring marches of John Philip Sousa. .

The 19th Century

We see very few 4th of July images in the 19th century. It was not that the 4th of July was not celebrated, it was because most of the photograophic record was studio photography. And only a few mothers (the primary parent involved in children's photography) wanted a 4th if July theme. We see few studio portraits with flags or other July 4 indicators.

The 1900s

With the turn of he centuryand the advent of the Kodak Briwnie we suddenly see July 4 celebrations. With family snapshots and we begin to see how Americans celebrate the 4th, like the children here on the previous page. We see countless 4th of July images from the beginning of the century. It was popular with children because of the parades, picnics, and more than anything, the fireworks. Of course as a summer vacation, there was no school holiday, but the firewoks more than made up for that.

The 1930s

Congress reaffirmed it as a paid holiday for federal employees (1938). And President Roosevelt declared it a national holiday, just before America was plunged into World War II.

The 1950s

Americans continue to celebrate the 4th in many of the same ways that they have done for over two centuries. It is a summer holiday with parades, bands, firework, and picnics. There are big city and small town parades in which children such as Scouts and Cubs take place. We see suburban children in the 1950s staging their own parade as seen on the previous page. I enjoyed the setting off more than big fireworks displays. Particularly prominent are waving flags and patriotic music like the 'Star-Spangled Banner' and the stiring marches of John Philip Sousa.

The 1960s

American began the 1960s without major changes. The first few years were much like the 1950s with few changes in celebrations like the 4th of July. We don't see a lot of dufference in the socnics, parades, and fireworks. We still see boys decorating their trikes and bikes with red, white, and blue acoutements along with spare baseball cards in the spokes. Then society began to change with the Beatles, Hippies, and Vietnam. This ultimtekly affected how Americans looked on patriotism. And the 4th of July was nothing if notva celebration of patriotism. We still see boutiful picnics abnd parades with Cubs abd Scouts and often veterans. Fire trucks were also popular. And the kids still enjoyed back yard fireworks and communit fore wirks displays. The chabnges in siciety, however, began to lead many young Americans to question patriotism. And this would affect 4th of July celebrationns in the 1970s and 80s.

The 1980s

Gradually municipal governmenr began addresing the dangers of fire works for children. I'm glad this all occurrd after my childhood as that was an annual highlight of my youth--setting off fire works in the backyard. We still see all the traditional 4th of July activities, picnics with fried chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs along with watermellon and of course a seed pitting contest--none of this modern seedless watrmellon. And attemding a big parade which had to include a big red fire truck. Cubs and Scouts were still important, but this would be the lack decade in which they wer a major part of the parades. And as back yard fire crackers became kless common, the municipal fire work displays began to be invrasingly important.

The 1990s

We see backyard fireworks being banned in many places because of the danger to children. There was a political dimnension to this. We see these bans gong into place in liberal communities that votr Demoratic. This was especially true of big cities in the Northeast and increasinly the Pacicic coast. Rural ares in the South abf Fly-Over countryt tended to continue fire works sales. Most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for everyone to see and enjoy.

Created: 5:20 AM 7/22/2018
Last updated: 10:29 PM 8/14/2018