Figure 1.-- This boy wears a smart single-breasted overcoat for a cabinet card portrait in December 1895. Mother has turned over the cape so we can see it was lined with a silky material. Someone has written, 'The head of the house'. That is something that would be less likely to see in Europe. His name is also there, but the hand writing is difficult to read, something like Edward Hougholing Smith. Click on the image if you want to have a crack at decipering the writing. The studio was Bateham in Norwalk, Ohio.

We note quite a number of examples of children wearing capes during the 1890s. Capes may have been most common in the 1880s-90s, but a factor that has to be considered is the vast body of the photigraphic record in the late-19th century. Many more images were taken than at mid-century or even the 1860s. Another factor is the rising income levels as a result of the industrial revolution. More children were better dressed than at mid-century. This probably meant that more children had heavy winter coats,including the overcoats made with capes. These were relatively expensive items. America in the late-19th century went through one of the most remarkable economic expansions in history. Thus it is not surpriing that by the end of the 19th century we see quite a number of very well dressed children. The photographic record by this time is probably a reasonable if not perfect reflection of actual prevalence.

Created: 11:13 AM 6/22/2012
Last updated: 8:23 AM 2/17/2022