Figure 1.--This American boy posed with his sister looks to be about 9 or even 10 years old, older than the age that most boys wore dresses. The image is not dated, but we would guess was taken in the 1880s.

As with many old photographs, the provinance has often been lost. Here is an old cabinet portrait of a girl and boy. The boy like his sister wears a white or light-colored dress. The portrait was taken by J. R. Tewksbury Front Street Fort Madison, Iowa. An inscription on the back in pencil reads, "Tom and Mary Ann". This suggests that they are both childern presumably brother and older sister and not mother and son. This portrait is a standard cabinent card, measuring roughly 4x6 inches. The somewhat faded image does not allow to make out much detail about the dresses other than they are a light color. They appear to be similar although not identical. The neck treatment for example varies somewhat. Both children wear corsages, although only Tom seems to wear a necklace. Mary Ann appears to have a choaker. The pose suggests that the two are very close to each other. The image is not dated, but given the dress styles and photographic style we would guess that it was was taken in the 1880s. From the pose and Tom's expression, there is no reason to think that Tom minds still wearing dresses, but of course there is no wau of really knowing. Even in the 1880s a boy of 10 still wearing dresses was unusual, but not unknown as so much was left to the mothers's discretion. Although he wears a dress, Tom's hair has been cut boyishly short. Here too there variations among families. Some cut a boy's hair before he was breaches, some at the time of breaching, and others at breaching.

Provinance

As with many old photographs, the provinance has often been lost. Here is an old cabinet portrait of a girl and boy. The only provinance we have here is that the portrait was taken by J. R. Tewksbury Front Street Fort Madison, Iowa. An inscription on the back in pencil reads, "Tom and Mary Ann".

Dresses

The boy like his sister wears a white or light-colored dress. The somewhat faded image does not allow to make out much detail about the dresses other than they are a light color. They appear to be similar although not identical. The neck treatment for example varies somewhat. Mary Ann's dress clearly had a wide ribbon waist sash, presumably tied in a bow at the back. It is difficult to Tell, but Tom's dress does not seem to have this sash. The high-neck dresses have small ruffles. There is no indication of front buttons as there is detailing all accross the front of the dress.

Identity

The fact that first names were written on the back inscription suggests that they are both childern presumably brother and older sister and not mother and son. Others wise it would probably be written "mother and Tom" or some other such varriant. The inscription is very important. Otherwide we might have thought that tom was a girl with a boyish hair cut. Tom looks to be about 9 or even 10 years old, older than the age that most boys wore dresses. All we have is their first names and based on the pose that the two were very close as children growing up.

Figure 2.--This enlargement of the above portrait shows much more detail about Tom's dress and accessories. The high-neck arrangement has small ruffles. There is no indication of front buttons as there is detailing all accross the front of the dress. Note there seems to be some kind of front horizontal pin.

Portrait

This portrait is a standard cabinent card, measuring roughly 4x6 inches.

Accessories

Both children wear corsages, although only Tom seems to wear a necklace, with a small cross. Mary Ann appears to have a choaker. The pose suggests that the two are very close to each other. Tom also has some kind of front horizontal pin.

Chronology

The image is not dated, but given the dress styles and photographic style we would guess that it was was taken in the 1880s.

Tom's Attitude

From the pose and Tom's expression, there is no reason to think that Tom minds still wearing dresses, but of course there is no wau of really knowing. Even in the 1880s a boy of 10 still wearing dresses was unusual, but not unknown as so much was left to the mothers's discretion.

Hair Cut

Although he wears a dress, Tom's hair has been cut boyishly short. Here too there variations among families. Some cut a boy's hair before he was breached, some at the time of breaching, and others at breaching. We do not know when Tom's hair was cut or how he wore it as a younger boy. He wears his hair short with a center part. Ther looks to a cowlick, but this is a blemish in the photograph. Presumably mother would not have allowed that in the photograph. We can't help in looking at Tom that he rather looks like Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" commedies. Noe Alfalfa would have minded wearing a dress like this.

Other Clothes

One of the things that we do not know yet about these older boys who wore dresses is what other kinds of clothes they wore. Presumably Tom also wore smocks, perhaps even pinafores to rotect his dresses at home. While surely he was schooled at home, would he have worn a dress like this to church or a party? Also did he have more boyish clothes clothes that he would wear for play or outside activities. Some insights on these questions are available from Frank Schoonover, a famous illustrator who was also a boy in the 1880s. Frank grew up to be a famous illustraor.

Created: July 10, 2002
Last updated: November 11, 2003