Figure 1.--American boys wore hats in the early-20th century, but caps were much more common. They were considered more casual than hats. The flat cap like the boys here are wearing was the dominant style in the 1910s and 20s. Notice the crease the older brother put in his cap brim.

Caps are a relatively modern innovation, at least the caps that have the partial frontal brim. We do see them worn extensively in the 18th century. It seems to have been a military style with caps becoming an important military style during the Napoleonic Wars of the early-19th century. This was certainly a factor in popularizing caps with boys. Not only were styles clearly military in origin, but the tassels worn with them also can ve seen on boys' caps. Even so, hats overall seem more common with boys than caps. This changed in the 20th century. Hats were still worn during the first half of the 20th century, but caps becamre mire common. There were social class variations, although in the second half of tge century, hsts became rare. In the 21st century, we rarely see Ametican boys wearing hats. Caps seem more a 19th than a 18th century style. We do not know of any 18th century cap styles, but we see many in the 19th and 20th centuries. The most common headwear for younger boys in the late 19th century was the wide-brimmed sailor hat, but sailor caps soon became more popular. American boys at the turn of the 20th century favored flat caps until about the late 1930's. Then, for a time (1940s to about the mid 1950s) some boys wore a felt or cloth cap that looked a bit like a crown - roundish top with a short, turned up brim cut into a series of peaks. In the "Archie" comic books, Archie's pal, Jughead, wore this style of cap, as did Jeff's (Tommy Rettig) friend, "Porky", from the early televised Lassie series. Baseball caps weren't common where I grew up until the late 1950's. Younger boys for dress wear wore peaked Englisgh school-type, usually in balck or grey. Possibly, this reflected the influx of early baby boomers into Little League baseball, swelling their ranks in number. Baseball caps seem to be in a "line of succession" of boys' caps. Major league baseball players from the late 19th century are depicted as wearing a cap with a flatter crown and smaller brim than today's caps. A range of age, gender, and social class factors affected the wearing of caps as well as the cap style selected. Utility was a factor in the selection of caps. Most cold weather winter headwear was caps rather than hats.

Chronology

Caps are a relatively modern innovation, at least the caps that have the partial frontal brim. We do see them worn extensively in the 18th century. It seems to have been a military style with caps becoming an important military style during the Napoleonic Wars of the early-19th century. This was certainly a factor in popularizing caps with boys. Not only were styles clearly military in origin, but the tassels worn with them also can be seen on boys' caps. Even so, hats overall seem more common with boys than caps. This was not the case in the winter when caps were developed for cold weather winter wear. This changed in the 20th century. Hats were still worn during the first half of the 20th century, but caps becamre mire common. There were social class variations, although in the second half of the century, hats became rare. The baseball cap slowly emerged as the dominant headwear style. In the 21st century, we rarely see American boys wearing hats, but we see boys all over the world wearing baseball caps.

Styles

Caps were more common for boys than hats, but we see boys wearing both. Caps seem more a 19th than a 18th century style. We do not know of any 18th century cap styles, but we see many in the 19th and 20th centuries. The most common headwear for younger boys in the late 19th century was the wide-brimmed sailor hat, but sailor caps soon became more popular. American boys at the turn of the 20th century favored flat caps until about the late 1930's. Then, for a time (1940s to about the mid 1950s) some boys wore a felt or cloth cap that looked a bit like a crown - roundish top with a short, turned up brim cut into a series of peaks. In the "Archie" comic books, Archie's pal, Jughead, wore this style of cap, as did Jeff's (Tommy Rettig) friend, "Porky", from the early televised Lassie series. Baseball caps weren't common where I grew up until the late 1950's. Younger boys for dress wear wore peaked Englisgh school-type, usually in balck or grey. Possibly, this reflected the influx of early baby boomers into Little League baseball, swelling their ranks in number. Baseball caps seem to be in a "line of succession" of boys' caps. Major league baseball players from the late 19th century are depicted as wearing a cap with a flatter crown and smaller brim than today's caps. Some HBC readers note that the appearance is not unlike a Civil War era kepi (except for the crown) and contend that this could well be the origin of the baseball cap. HBC is not convinced of this and thinks the English school/cricket cap is a more likely choice as to the origins of the baseball cap. There were also a range of other headwear such as berets, hetmets, and knit caps. These items are commonly referred to as caps as well even though they did not have brims. we have not noted any new styles in the 21st century. Some cap styles like sailor caps, flat caps, and baseball caps were particularly common for boys, but there are many other styles worn as well. There were also fad styles like coon-skin caps.

Conventions

A range of age, gender, and social class factors affected the wearing of caps as well as the cap style selected.

Utility

Utility was a factor in the selection of caps. Most cold weather winter headwear was caps rather than hats.

Created: 5:54 AM 8/30/2010
Last updated: 5:54 AM 8/30/2010