Argentine Boys' Clothes: Immigration


Figure 1.--This Dutch family was living in Bahia Blanca, Argentina around 1896-98. The family returned to Europe in 1900. The boys look to be wearing sailor suits of some description.

Immigration primarily from Europe significantly has played a major role in many Latin Americn countries. Some countries have important indigenous population. Other countries like Argentina is mostly populated by Euopeans. European immigration was especially important in Argentina. It began after independence in 1810, but the principal years were 1880-1910. Many Itlalians immigrated to Argentina, but there were immigrants from many other countries as well, including Spain and England. In the case of Argentina, the social, political and economical crisis of 2002 have caused a substantial reverse migration with many with mant people, usually the father, emmigrting to Spain, the United States, and other countries. In many cases, the emmigrants choose the country they or their ancestors came from.

Image

The sailor suits are worth noting. If I have to guess, I would say the two boys in sailor suits are 3 and 4 years old. The suits have knee pants worn below the knee, perhaps sized for long wear. The sailor tops are open and can be worn almost like sweaters. The large white front buttons look more ornamental than functional. The color is relatively light. The shirt worn below the sailor top has large white and some color striping, although the image is faded and it is difficult to make out the details. The boys are wearing dark stockings and high laced shoes. The hair cuts are short.

Native Americans

Immigration primarily from Europe significantly has played a major role in many Latin Americn countries. Some countries have important indigenous population. Other countries like Argentina is mostly populated by Euopeans.

European Immigrants

European immigration was especially important in Argentina. It began after independence in 1810, but the principal years were 1880-1910. Many Itlalians immigrated to Argentina, but there were immigrants from many other countries as well, including Spain and England. In the case of Argentina, the social, political and economical crisis of 2002 have caused a substantial reverse migration with many with mant people, usually the father, emmigrting to Spain, the United States, and other countries. In many cases, the emmigrants choose the country they or their ancestors came from.

England

The history of the English in Argentina is interesting. Britain played a major role in Argentine and wider South American independence. The Congress of Vienna which attempted to retirn Europe to monarchial rule was also dispposed to do the same in South America. Britain was, however, not in agreement. Independence mean imporived trade terms. And without the Royal Navy, there was no way of reconstituting the Spanish Empire. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to recognise the new Argentine republic. Unlike many emigrations from Europe, the First English settlers were affluent businessmen and engineers. They set up bank, and built railways. Farmers went to the pampas to exploit the land. A British reader notes, "It was said that Arentina was part of our informal Empire. The English settlers brought football (soccer) and rugby football to the new nation. Later relations became strained, especially the Fascist leaning during and after World War II and later the dispute over the Falkland Islands. Relations now are more amicable. The photo of the Schiel boys with one holding a cricket bat is interesting. I am not aware that the Aergentines play cricket, but with such a large immigarnt British population and the playing of other traditional English sports I would not be surprised. As you say the family name of the boys sounds German. An Argentine reader comments on the English influence. "rgenyine women were attracted by French fashion. Men were drawn to English fashion. (HBC has described English styled school uniforms in Argentina. That was standard while I was a student during the primary and secondary schooling years./ Argentines drink the 5:00 tea. It was as staple feature in my house, in the houses of many of my neighbors and play mates and with the rest of educated Argentina. Polo, tennis, golf,rowing and rugby were a common Sunday sport. The railroads were built be the Brits and functioned as such before the Peronist debacle."

France

The French were not generally inclined to leave France, either to their colonies or emigrated to other countries. There was no substantial Frenh immigrany community in Argentina, althogh th countries around Frnce did emigrate to Agentina. That does ot bmen that France did not influence Argentina. A Argentine reader tells us, "French culture was highly valued in Argentina. The national patrician elites, known as 'criollos' (white European born in Argentina) educated their children in France. They bought the latest fashions from France. Buenos Aires architecture shows the French influence." We suspect that a factor here was the Enlightenment swhich strongly influenced elites in Latin America and led to the wats of independence in the ealy-19th century.

Germany

German are an important part of the Argentine ethic mix. Here we are talking about ethnic Germans which include immigrants from the many German communities located outside the German empire which only came into existence in 1871. Some of these people were ethnically German, but varied culturally. One such group was the Volga Germans from Russia. Most German emigration to Argentina occurred after the creation of the German Empire. The initial German emogration to South America was largely to Brazil and Chile. Subsequently German emigrants began reaching Argentina. We are not entirely sure why Germans chose South America rather than North America. Of course in the late-19th century, the political and economic future of North and South America was not altogether clear. We suspect that religion was a factor and that many Germans immigrats to South america were Catholic. Today in Argentina, Germans constiture the third largest ethnic group in Argentina. Over 2 million Argentines have Volga German ancestors and this is of course is only part of the vGerman immigrant commi\unity. Germans make up an important part of the country's professionals and technicians (doctors, bureaucrats, teachers, sciebtusts, and soldiers). Germans have influenced the Argentine education system. Immigrants founded a number of schools. German immigrabts in the late-19th and early 20th century were convinced that Argentina was industrializing and would become a modern country on the level of European nations. Buoyed by export sales to Europe during World War I, this almost occurred. Ecinomists debate why it did not occur. Many focus on the popularist policies which undermined the private sector.

Italy

Italian immigration was especially important in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Many Italians felt more comfortable emigrating to a Catholic country with a language similar to Italian. A reader writes, "I remember hearing people from Argentina and thinking their accent was different from most of South Americans. And about 2 years ago or so, a Chilean friend mentioned to me how Argentinians speak Spanish with an Italian accent due to the large presence of Italian immigrants." The most famous Italian-Argentine is Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who of course was elected Pope (2013). He was born and raised in Argentina with Italian origins. There are some 25 million Argentines of Italian roots, that represents about 60 percent of the country entire population. They came to Argenbtina and other South American countries (especially Uruguay) in different generations. Most of them came during the great European immigration wave at the end of 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This of course is the sane time that Italians emigrated to the United States in large numbers. Italian immigration was a major part of the emigrant wave because Italy was such a populace country. And at the time Italy was facing major social and economic problems (1880-1920). Italians flocked to Argentina for the same reason that they camne to the United States--economic opportunity. Most of the immigrans cme from poverty stricken southern Italy. And like the United States, Argentina had an open immigration policy. In fact this was even codified in the Constitution because Argentine Governments wanted to expand the country's population. Article 25 of the 1853 Constitution read, "The Federal Government shall encourage European immigration, and shall not restrict, limit, or obstruct, by taxation of any kind, the entrance into the Argentine territory of foreigners coming to it for the purpose of engaging in the cultivation of the soil, the improvement of industrial business, or the introduction and teaching of arts and sciences." And of course, Argentina was even more culturally attractive than Eglish-speaking, Proestant North America. Despite Goverment policy, the Italins faced some anti-immigrant feeling. An Argentine reader tells us, "The immigration from southern Itatly was massive. Some educated people in Argentina resented what they preceived as their their vulgarity." We find evidence of Italian immigration in the photographic record with photographs Italians sent to their relatives in Argentina. A good example are brother and sister Amalia and Luiscitto Cella doing their First Communion in Genoa during 1934..






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Created: June 22, 2002
Last updated: 11:49 PM 10/7/2017