United States Boys' Clothes: Individual Experiences in the 1890s-1900s


Figure 1.--We believe that this American boy was photographed about 1900. We do not know him name, but we have images of how he was dressed as a younger and older boy. Note the riglet curls. The image looks to have been tken in the early 1890s.

HBC has only limited information on this boy. We do know that he was from Pennsyvania. We believe that he was born about 1890, but that is only an estimate based on the clothing seen in the cabinent cards. We believe that the family visited Washington DC about 1901. While we have very little information about the boy and his family, we believe that they were an affluent family. While we have little information about the boy, we do, however, have several images showing how he was dressed over time. As a little boy he, like other boys of the day, wore dresses. Later he wore Fauntleroy suits with curls. As an older noy he was an avid sportsman, playing baseball and football.

Victorian Albumn

HBC has noted a lovely celluloid Victorian era picture album with a collection of wonderful cabinet cards of children. There were 25 cabinet cards of children with their toys, in sporting outfits, and in their fancy oufits. This is especially interesting because you can see how a boy was dressed at the turn of the century as he was growing up. It was a 9 in X 11 in 1901 booklet/albumn. The cover reportedly read "The Library of Congress Its Principal Architectural and Clothes". We do not se this text, however, on the cover posted. The cabinent cards ones that I am able see information on indicate that the photographers were from Brookville Pa, with some from Pittsburgh. There are also two pages of tintypes in the back and a photo of a gentleman with 2-year old race horses.

Identity

HBC has only limited information on this boy. We do know that he was from Pennsyvania. While we have very little information about the boy and his family, we believe that they were an affluent family. The fact that the boy was well dressed suggests some affluence. The sports uniforms suggest that he went to an exclusive private school, of course another indication of affluence.

Chronology

We believe that he was born about 1890, but that is only an estimate based on the clothing seen in the cabinent cards. We believe that the family visited Washington DC about 1901. The albumn was dated in 1901, but it could have been purchased before the boy was born.

Clothing

While we have little information about the boy, we do, however, have several images showing how he was dressed over time. As a little boy he, like other boys of the day, wore dresses. Later he wore Fauntleroy suits with curls. As an older boy he was an avid sportsman, playing baseball and football.


Figure 2.--The boy is seen here with his father. He looks to be about 3 years old. He is wearing a fancy white or light-colored dress. Note the long, but not curled hair.

Dresses

As a little boy he, like other boys of the day, wore dresses. He was photographed with his father. This is a little unusual in that boys in dresse were mor commonly photographd with their mother when being photographed with a single parent. It is not a complete image, but it definitely appears to be a dress. There are no front button, but instead elaborate detailing on the dress. There is also a hifg, frilled collar. No details such as color and material are apparent, although it could be a white dress. He looks to be 3 years old. Another image suggests that he was probably breached at about age 5 years.

Fauntleroy suits

Later he wore Fauntleroy suits with curls. As was common in the 1890s, the boy after breaching wore a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit. He eras a largenfancy hat with a wide brim, but not a sailor hat. It looks to be some kind of fuzy cap. He looks to be about 4 years old. Actually you can not tell if he is wearing a Fauntleroy suit with kneepants or perhaps a kilt skirt as was common in the 1890s. He weras a large bow which looks to be black. He also has a large collar done with eyelet lace. His hair is curly, but not done in ringlets.

Sports

As an older boy he was an avid sportsman, playing baseball and football. At the time, it was not as common for boys to have sports uniforms, unless they went to a pivate school. High school sports, however, were becoming increasingly common. Here the YMCA was playing a major role. It is not possible to tell what team he played on, although it wnds in "... ton". It could be Princeton, but he does not look old enough to be auniversity sudent. The baseball pants are interesting. They are padded. I am not sure how common padded baseball pants were at the time. Of course it may be that these were just posed portraits and he did not really play on a team. I am not sure about this.

Hair Styles

This boy at about 7 or 8 appears to have ringlet curls. he curls are not quite shoulder length, but they do appear to be ringlets (figure 1). He apparently continued wearing curls well after he was breached.

E-Bay Auction

E-Bay readers may be interested in the auction, but the price is rather steep.







Christopher Wagner





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Created: March 12, 1998
Last updated: April 8, 2002