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American boy activities chronology 20th century
American Boy Activities: Chronology--The 1900s
Figure 1.--Here we see a cabinet card portrait great grouop of American children, but unfortunatley we have no information about themNothing is written on the back. We know from the mount and the clthing that the portrait is taken in the 1900s decade. And their is some kind of outdoor activity for which a tent has been set up. We are woindering if it might be a revival camp meeting or prthaps achurch picnic. The background suggests a park or small town area. The children are dressed p in gtheir best summer togs. The boys are waering caps and hats, but nly two girls have their hats on. We see a lot of boys wearing bows, but not the nig ones popular in the 1890s. This suggests to us the portrait was tajen in the mid-1900s. Put uour cursor on the Image to see the rest of the group.
The 20th century brought more change in boys activities. In fact there were more changes than ever before. This included social activies that were important like school and church as well as activities that were more recreational. School is surely the most imprtant activity for children. Religion was also important. Bot as imprtant as it once was, but imprtant none the less. With more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance, but were still common in rural areas. As America became more urbanized we begin to see families diverting themselves by taking trips to get back to nature, including trips into beautiful wildreness areas. This is not something rural people did. They were more intereted in coming to towns and cities. A part of the same movement, we see cities giving more and more attention to opening city parks with green areas. At first this a manicured gardens. But then some parks began to recreate wild areas. This began with Central Park in New York City (1857) and the idea became increaingly popular in cities throughout America. By the turn of the 20th century, most large American cities had public parks to bring a little green into the city. We also see boys' activities changing. Sports as America urbanized were becoming increasingly important, especially baseball. It became known as the 'national passtime'. Other sports like baketbasll and football were growing in popularity, but it was baseball that was the dominant sport. A recording of the poem 'Casey at the bat' was a sensation (1906). Many of the same activities that were popular in the 1890s contiunued in the i900s. All kinds of dolls and stuffed animals wereavasliable--including the classic Teddy Bear--of course named after the president atthetime--Theodire "Teddy" Roosevelt who famously saved a bear cub. Particulrly popular was shooting marbels, but with rising incomes generasted the increased production of toys. We see all kinds of toys entering. Boys were particularly fascinated by the new Electric trains. Lionel introduced the first version of what became the classic train set (1906).
Hunting
With more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance, but were still common in rural areas.
Fishing
Outings
As America became more urbanized we begin to see families diverting themselves by taking trips to get back to nature, including trips into neautiful wildreness areas. This is not something rural people did. They were more intereted in coming to towns and cities. A part of the same movement, we see cities giving more and more attention to opening city parks with green areas. At first this a manicured gardens. But then some parks began to recreate wild areas. This began with Central Park in New York City (1857) and the idea became increaingly popular in cities throughout America. By the turn of the 20th century, most large American cities had public parks to bring a little green into the city. We also see boys' activities changing.
Play acting was once popular among boys. The themes were largelt the food huys against the bad guys. This could be cops and robbers, war, or cowboys and Indians. An associated activity is bulding a fort as part of the game. And of course the game ibvolved guns for shooting at each other. The war game dependence on the most recent war. When I was a kid it was World War II. We are not sure just when all of this began. We suspect in American in began even before the Tevolutiin, but we have not seen actual refeences until the 19th century. We see kids playing with toy guns or imaginary or crude guns. But guns were an important pat of the game. This was not directed play, buy just waht the kids (almost entirely boys) did when they got together in unsoperbised circumstamces. We think this is much less common today. This is because children are much more suprvised today thanwas the case as recentky as he 1960s. Amf moms don't like war and war games. And they have largely disarmed boys. Modern boys are much less likely to have toy guns and especially BB-guns.
Religion
Religion was also important. Not as imprtant as it once was, but imprtant none the less. And when the end of the rontier, there were well-established churches throughout the country. There were all kinds of chirch activities in which children could participate. Many attended church services with their parents. Ad by the 1900s, sunday schools were well established. There were also camp meetings. This was a 19th century traditin n the frointier, but we also see revivals in he eraly-20th centry. And of course church picnics a popular summer trafion. Th image here could be a church revival meeting or a picnic (figure 1).
The idea of wearing school uniforms never became accepted in America, at least in the public schools. In this regard, it was not unlike England. English state primary schools did not require uniforms. Most private schools, both public schools and prep schools did require uniforms. In this regard, many of the exclusive private schools in America following the British system, also adopted school uniforms, but this was a relatively small number of exclusive schools. Parochial schools did not require uniforms. Younger boys wore quite a variety of outfit, even fancy suits like Little Lord Fauntleroy suits. Boys also wear sailor suits, but mostly city boys. Most boys in cities came to school in suits. In rural areas schoolwear was more varied. A lot of boys wore blouses and knee pants. Almost all American boys wore kneepants to school, although knickers were becoming popular by the end of the decade. Bib-overalls were commonly worn by workers abd we think farmers. We do not see boys in rural areas wearing them to school until the end of the decade and almost etirely in rural areas. We do not know why this development ocurred so suddenly. Boys in the cities mostly wore high-top shoes. In rural areas many bous in warm weaher came to school barefoot. America made a major demographic shift in the 1900s. Slightlu over half of the population lived in urban areas. Still the rural population was very substantial.
Sports
Sports as America urbanized were becoming increasingly important, especially baseball. It became known as the 'national passtime'. Other sports like baketbasll and football were growing in popularity, but it was baseball that was the dominant sport. A recording of the poem 'Casey at the bat' was a sensation (1906).
Toys
Many of the same activities such as toys that were popular in the 1890s contiunued in the i900s. All kinds of dolls and stuffed animals wereavasliable--including the classic Teddy Bear--of course named after the president atthetime--Theodire "Teddy" Roosevelt who famously saved a bear cub. Particulrly popular was shooting marbels, but with rising incomes generasted the increased production of toys. We see all kinds of toys entering. Boys were particularly fascinated by the new Electric trains. Lionel introduced the first version of what became the classic train set (1906).
