Figure 1.--We know nothing about this summer camp except that the first letter of the camp's name was H. They had a camp uniform of a monogramed "T" shirt and short pants. I'm not surewhen this photograph was taken but would guess the 1940s. The boy with the large H is probably the cabin leader.

American summer camps were founded in the late 19th century. We know nothing about these early camps, including the clothes worn at camp. The YMCA played a major role in founding camps. We know nothing about their camps in the 19th century, but note uniforms at some Y camps in the early 20h century. There were also private camps founded. After the turn of the 20th century with the founding of many youth groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Camp Fire Gurls), many more camps were founded. We know more about the camps after World War I (1914-18). All the youth group camps required uniforms. It was also very common at the private camps to wear uniforms, although they were generally very basic. I'm not sure why uniforms were so commonly adopted at these camps. Many of these private camps were expensive and attended by children who went to private schools that required uniforms. Both boys and girls wore uniforms. Almost all early camps were single gender operations. Many American boys from the 1920s-50s only wore short pants when they were at summer camps, especially boys in northern states. Middy blouses were very popular for the girls; uniforms, but to my knowledge were never worn by the boys. An middy blouse unform at Camp Kehonka is a good example of a girl's camp uniform. Girls at first commonly wore bloomers with their middy blouses. these middy blouses. We note one example of a girl at a camp from the 1930s. This was at the time the style of gym suits used a most high schools. Bloomer camp uniforms were common through the 1930s, but by the 1940s short pants were becoming increasingly common.

Chronology

Clothing at American summer camps have varied over time. We believe that uniforms were common at early camps, although our information is very limited. I am not entirely sure why this convention was adopted. Camps were established well before the Scouting movement was founded. American summer camps were founded in the late 19th century. We know virtually nothing about these early camps, including the clothes worn at camp, until the turn of the 20th century. We note one early 20th century camp that had a uniform of a British-styled peaked school cap, a "T"-shirt with the camp iniitial, and knee pants. These caps were worn at some private schools at the time. We know more about the camps after World War I (1914-18). Boys commonly wore monogrammed "T"-shirts, short pants, and often knee socks. For some reason the shorts often had side stripes. After World War II (1939-45) the knee socks became less common, except at Scout camps, but T-shirts and short pants were still common. By the 1960s, camp uniforms were declining in popularity, except at Scout camps, campers mostly wore their own individual clothes.

Youth Groups

Many summer camps were associated with youth groups and thus use the organization uniform as a camp uniform. Yiuth groups appeard at about the same time that summer camps became popular. The YMCA played a major role in founding camps. We know nothing about their camps in the 19th century, but note uniforms at some Y camps in the early 20h century. There were also private camps founded. After the turn of the 20th century with the founding of many youth groups began. The Boy Scouts wer by far the most important. And Boy Scoyt rapidly begn appearing ll over the country. Other groups included the Girl Scouts and the Camp Fire Gurls). These camps became an important part of the summer camp program. All the youth group camps required uniforms.

Private Camps

Many of the early summer camps were private camps. YMCA cmps were an exception. It was also very common at the private camps into the 1950s to wear uniforms, although they were generally very basic. I'm not sure why uniforms were so commonly adopted at these camps. This seems most common in the inter-War era. Many of these private camps were expensive and attended by children who went to private schools that required uniforms. While most camps if they required uniforms had fairly basic ones, and often were not real strict about enforcing the uniform. We notice a few camps that seem to have taken the uniform more seriously amd rather strictly enorced their unifirm rules. Alopst always this was a "T"-shirt and short pants. We notice a few camps which had a uniform looking more like a school uniform. We even notice campa caps. We see a few camps with collared shirts. Short pants were standard, but some camps had kneesocks to go along wih them. Such formal uniforms began to go out of styles after World War II, espcially by the 1960s.

Gender

Both boys and girls wore uniforms. Almost all early camps were single gender operations.

Garments

Many American boys from the 1920s-50s only wore short pants when they were at summer camps, especially boys in northern states. Middy blouses were very popular for the girls; uniforms, but to my knowledge were never worn by the boys. An middy blouse unform at Camp Kehonka is a good example of a girl's camp uniform. Girls at first commonly wore bloomers with their middy blouses. these middy blouses. We note one example of a girl at a camp from the 1930s. This was at the time the style of gym suits used a most high schools. Bloomer camp uniforms were common through the 1930s, but by the 1940s short pants were becoming increasingly common.

Created: 12:03 AM 5/2/2005
Last updated: 10:23 PM 9/7/2015