Figure 1.--Here most of the boys wear caps. We see both peaked caps and flat caps. It is a little unusual for school portraits like this to show so many boys wearing their caps, almost loke the school encouraged the boys to wear those caps. The girls do not wear any hats, perhaps because of all those hair bows. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1910s. It is also a little unusual to see so many peaked caps in the 1910s, more commonly we see mostly flat caps. Unfortunately we know nothing zbout the school. It looks to us like a standard public elementary (public) school in a big city. The girls probably did not have headwear because of their hair bows.

American boys boys commonly wore headwear to school in the 19th and early 20th century. Headwear was much more common than is the case today. This is a little difficult to follow because the children in most school portraits are not wearing their caps and hats and school portraits are our main source of information on schoolwear. As few American children wore uniforms, the hats they wore were basically their regular headwear. We have little information on the early-19th century. Thanks to photography we know much more beginning in the mid-19th century. Unfortunately the children are not wearing headwear in many school portraits, but there are so many school photographs that we have a fairly good idea. In the mid-19th century it was mosly hats although we do se kepis around the Civil War. Rounded-crown hats were the most common, but we see some flat-crown hats as well. A few younger boys wore wide-brimmed hat. We see some sailor caps in the 189os. We also see winter caps. After the-turn-of-the century, caps relaced hats as the primary school headwear. We see peaked caps, flat caps, beanies, swabbie caps, ski caps. logging caps, and other styles. Logging caps were a regional, style, popular in the extreme north. Some private schools did have uniforms which included British-type peaked caps. Since World War II, headwear has become less common, except on rainy days or during the cold winter weather. We also see baseball caps emerging s the principal headwear for boys. Parochial schools began requiring uniforms in the 1960s, but usully did not require caps. Public schools began adopting voluntary iniforms in the 70s, but like parochial schools did not generally require headwear.

Chronology

American boys boys commonly wore headwear to school in the 19th and early-20th century. Headwear was much more common than is the case today. This is a little difficult to follow because the children in most school portraits are not wearing their caps and hats and school portraits are our main source of information on schoolwear. As few American children wore uniforms, the hats they wore were basically their regular headwear. And for much of the 19th century this mean rounded-crown hats, especially in rural areas. We also see a variety of caps with military styles popular, especially during mid-century with Mexican War and Civil War styles popular. Children wore the headwear they had to school, not any special types. We have little information on the early-19th century. Thanks to photography we know much more beginning in the mid-19th century. Unfortunately the children are not wearing headwear in many school portraits, but there are so many school photographs that we have a fairly good idea. Sometimes with outdoor portraits, the boys are holding their caps and hats. And with the 20th century and the advent of the snapshot we begin to see children on the way to and from school, often with their caps in the early-20th century. And for a time the flat cap was ubiquitous for American boys going to school. This began to change in the late-1930s. Since World War II, headwear has become less common for boys and even more so for girls, except on rainy days or during the cold winter weather. We also see baseball caps emerging as the principal headwear for boys when they bothered to put on a cap. And we never see hats any more.

Headwear Types

We see American school children wearing all kinds of different types and styles of headwear to school. In the mid-19th century it was mostly hats although we do se kepis around the Civil War. Rounded-crown hats were the most common, but we see some flat-crown hats as well. They tended to be more of a city tyle for children from afflunt families. A few younger boys wore wide-brimmed hat. This also was more of a style for affluent children. We do not see many caps until the end of the century, although cold weather caps may have appeared earlier. We also see a few affluent boys wearing Scottish styles at mid-century. This followed Queen Victoria's infatuation with all things scottish and dressing the pribces in kilts. The fashion soon crossed the Ataltic, at least fofr fashionble, well=to-do children. We rarely, however, see the Scottish caps used for school wear. We see some sailor caps in the 1890s, but we are not sure just when hey frst appeared. We also see winter caps. After the-turn-of-the century, caps relaced hats as the primary school headwear. We see peaked caps, flat caps, beanies, swabbie caps, ski caps. logging caps, and other styles. Logging caps were a regional, style, popular in the extreme north. It was the flat cap that emerged as the standard for American boys along with knickers. Peaked caps did not disappear and wre adoptd as unifoirm item for some private schools, influenced by Bitish trend. Flat caps declined in popularity during the 1930s. Headwear became less common, except during the winter or on rainy day. Some boys began wearing baseball caps to school. Far fewer children wear any kind of headwear to chool in the 21st centuy.

Uniforms

American children have not commonly worn school uniforms. There have, however, been some instances where uniforms have been worn and in recent years they have become more common. Some private schools did have uniforms which included British-type peaked caps. Parochial schools began requiring uniforms in the 1960s, but usully did not require caps. Public schools began adopting voluntary iniforms in the 70s, but like parochial schools did not generally require headwear as part of the uniforms.

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Created: 5:55 AM 1/29/2009
Last updated: 12:42 AM 2/20/2014