Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows an unidentified priest and two altar boys. The photo was taken by C.H. Hammersley at the Rembrandt Studio in New York City. That is unusual, rarely does a studio indicate the name of the photographer. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1890s--perhaps the early-90s. The boys' costume is rather fancy. Notice the fancy surplice as well as the sashes. Rarely do we see the boys wearing these sashes.

America was founded as a largely protestant nation. Some Catholics settled in Maryland, but the other colonies were largely Protestant. There were so many Protestant denominations, however, that the principle of religious freedom developed in the colonied and was inshrined in the Bill of Rights after the Federal Constitution was ratified (1789). The first Catholics to reach America in large numbers were the Irish fleeing the Potato Famine (1840s). The Irish were desperately poor and the Catholic Church that came with them was viewed with suspion by many Protestants. This was an artifact of the European religious wars. We do not have any images of American altar boys from the mid-19th century. Many more Catholics arrived in the late-19th century when European immigration became a major phenomenon. Many came from largely-Catholic southern Europe. Much has been written about the prejudice they encountered. This was indeed a problem, but the fact that Catholic immigrants continued to come to America reflects not only the economic opportunity they found, but also the fact that the were limits on the prejudice they encountered. The Church was an important institution in assisting immigrant communities. The expanded immigration turned Catholics from a small, largely Catholic minority to a major American religious community. Catholics primarily setteled in the cities and becamne a major part of America's expanding industrial work force. Large numbers of boys served as altar boys. We do have some from the late-19th and turn-of-the 20th century. Early altar boy garments seem somewhat fancier than the ones we see after World war I. Congress placed significant limitatiins on immigration (1920s). The story of Catholicism in America is one of gradual assimilation and acceptance. After World War II, American Catholics had joined the American mainstream.

18th Century

America was founded as a largely protestant nation. Some Catholics settled in Maryland, but the other colonies were largely Protestant. We have no images or information about altar boys during the colonial period. There were so many different Protestant denominations, however, that the principle of religious freedom developed in the colonies and was inshrined in the Bill of Rights after the Federal Constitution was ratified (1789). This was not done to protect Catholics, but both Catholics and Jews were important beneficiaries.

The 19th Century

The first Catholics to reach America in large numbers were the Irish fleeing the Potato Famine (1840s). The Irish were desperately poor and the Catholic Church that came with them was viewed with suspion by many Protestants. This was an artifact of the European religious wars. We do not have any images of American altar boys from the mid-19th century. Many more Catholics arrived in the late-19th century when European immigration became a major phenomenon. Many came from largely-Catholic southern Europe. Much has been written about the prejudice they encountered. This was indeed a problem, but the fact that Catholic immigrants continued to come to America reflects not only the economic opportunity they found, but also the fact that the were limits on the prejudice they encountered. The Church was an important institution in assisting immigrant communities. Many ethnic groups founded communities founded around their churches, this included Bohemian, Croats, Hungarian, Irish, Itlanian, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Romanians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes, and others. Some of these churches had destinctive litergeries. While we do not have any images from the mid-19th century, we have found some from the late-19th century.

20th Century

We have far more images of altar boys after-the-turn of the 20th century. The expanded immigration turned Catholics from a small, largely Catholic minority to a major American religious community. And an increasingly prosperous community. Catholics primarily setteled in the cities and became a major part of America's expanding industrial work force. The Catholic presence was largely in the big northeastern cities and indudtrial Mid-Wst, but gradually spread around the country. Large numbers of Catholic boys served as altar boys. It was seen as an honor anmd mothers in particular encouraged boys to serve. Early altar boy garments seem somewhat fancier than the ones we see after World War I. Congress placed significant limitations on immigration (1920s) and Catholic southern Europe was disadvantages. The story of Catholicism in America is one of gradual assimilation and acceptance. After World War II, American Catholics had joined the American mainstream. Not long after, the first Catholic president was elected. There were also major changes in immigration law which affected the ethnic mix (1960s). After this, illegal immigration began to increase, especially increasing numbers of mostly Catholic Hispanics. We note images of altar boys throughout the century.

21st Century

Created: 9:30 PM 9/4/2010
Last updated: 3:19 AM 7/24/2011