U.S. School Events: Graduation--Chronology


Figure 1.-- This is an unidentified graduation portrait which looks like the 1910s, perhaps the early-20s. There is no information associated with the portrait. The gurls wear white blouses, sailor scarves, skirts, long stockings, and high top shoes. Note all the hair bows. The boys wear dark suits, both knicker anhd long pants suits. They are hiolding their diplomas. The most interesting aspect of this portrait is the much larger number of girls. e suspect tht many of the missing boys have begun to work.

Graduation was a major event in a young person's life and of course still is. Few children attended high school in the 19th century. And graduation was a major accomplishment. e are not sure about the 19th century, but by the late-10th centuty we begin to see grafuation portraits in the photographic record. Factors are rising affluence as a result iof industril development, child labor laws, and cimpulsory school attendanve laws. We see countless graduarion portraits in in the early-20th century. Most elementary (primary) schools were 8 grade schools. And they had 8th grade graduations. Graduation portarits show just how seriously the children and parents took it with very formal attire, diploms, and awards, but no caps and gowns. School attendance increase further during the Depression, because of the lack of jobs (1930s) as jobs were so hard to come by. Until the Depression/World War II, most America children did not go beyond the 8th grade. This began to change as an increasinly sophisticated job market demanded better educated personnel. Thus 8th grade graduations became less important. Gradually elementary school begame the first 6 years and junior high schools were opened in the cities. And as the GI Bill made college accessable to veterans, they began sending their children to highschool. State legislatures began passiong laws requiring children to stay in school ubntil 1ge15-016byears. This meant begnning high school. After World war II with the widespread prosperity, attending high school became standard. Graudating from high school was a major very formal event conducted with academic gowns.






HBC-SU






Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s] [The 1990s] [The 2000s]



Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Style Pages
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Lederhosen] [Kneesocks] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Blazer] [Rompers] [School sandals]



Navigate the HBC Country School Pages:
[Return to the Main American graduation page]
[Return to the Main American special school events page]
[Return to the Main American School Activities Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Poland] [Singapore] [Scotland]
[Singapore] [United States]



Navigate the HBC School Sections:
[About Us]
[Activities] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Debate] [Economics] [Garment] [Gender] [Hair] [History] [Home trends] [Literary characters]
[School types] [Significance] [Transport and travel [Uniform regulations] [Year level] [Other topics]
[Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]






Created: 4:02 AM 6/28/2018
Last updated: 4:02 AM 6/28/2018