Figure 1.--A New York boy Hiram Van Vliet Braman wore a Highland kilt. The kilt was donated to the ??? Museum and is in the New York City collection. Hiram wore the kilt about 1883, although for what occassions and how commonly we do not know. |
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A New York boy Hiram Van Vliet Braman wore a Highland kilt. The kilt was donated to the ??? Museum and is in the New York City collection. Hiram wore the kilt about 1883, although for what occassions and how commonly we do not know. The Museum calls it a "Scotch Suit", but it is clearly a full Highland kilt outfit. It is possible that Hiram's mother and perhaps New York City society referred to it as a Scoych suit, this we are sure of. The outit, however, is a Higgland kilt outfit, clearly different from the kilt suiys that were commonly worn by American boys in the late 19th century. Hiram's outfit includes a black velvet jacket, shoulder plaid, and a kilt in the Black Watch plaid. It is complete with a sporran. We are not sure what kind of headwear Hiram wore with his Highland kilt, but a Glengarry bonnet was the most likely choice. According to the Museum, Upon Queen Victoria's "coronation, the influence of Victoria's reign and the ensuing predilection for all things British were strongly felt on the New York side of the Atlantic. A popular souvenir from a trip to the British Isles was the ubiquitous Scotch suit that was worn by fashionable children of either gender." This undoubtedly true, although we are not sure to what extent girls wore Highland kilts. Americans traveling to England and Europe in the late 19th century mean families of means. We also wonder if they might not have been able to purchase them in New York City shops. We have little information about Hiram and his family. Almost certainly they wee a well-to-fo New York family. The Van Vliet name suggestions descent from the Dutch founders of New York. The Braman name may be Scottish.
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