Figure 1.--This is an elementary (primary) school in Kokomo, Indiana. The dealer suggested 1930. We think the mid-1920s is more likely. Notice that only a few boys are wearing suits or white shirts and ties and the mix of pants. We see a range of short pants, knickers, and long pants. This was largely determined by the social class make up of the community and parental choice. These children look to be about 9 years old, perhaps 4th grade.

Boys in the early-19th century wore long pants. America at the time was beginning to build a public school system. Many boys at the time only got a few years of primary education. This was especially the case in rural areas, although school were being built as areas were settled. In the early-19th century, this process was only beginning. Abraham Lincoln for example had less than a full year of schooling (1810s). There were many children like him. Even so American public education was the nost advanced in the world, except for the German states. Some boys wore tunic to school, but with long trousers. This continued until after mid-century. More children were attending schools for longer periods. At mid-century we begin to see boys wearing shortened-length pants. At first this was very young boys and boys from fashionable city families. But gradually we see older boys wearing mostly knee pants, always with long stockings if not going barefoot. Knee pants were virtually universal by the end of the century, at least in city schools. This continued into the very early-20th century. For some reasons beginning about 1908, American boys began wearing knickers. The youngest boys might still wear knee pants or short pants, but most boys wore knickers. Knickers continued to be widely worn into the 1910s and 20s. This began to change in the late-1920s and especially the 1930s. We see a mix of pants, including short pants, knickers, and long pants in the 1930s. By the end of the 1930s knickers were still worn, but long oants were becoming increasingly common. Knickers were rapidly going out of style in the early-40s. Some boys wore short pants, but by the end of the 40s, long pants were becoming standard. We still see short pants being worn by younger boys in the early-1950s. And there was some regional differences, but boys mostly wore long pants to school in the 1950s and 60s. And at the same time school wear was becoming increasingly casual. Short pants were becoming common for casual wear in the 1970s and we begin to see more boys wearing shorts to school by the mid-1970s. Athletetic style shorts were popular with tube socks. This was at first most common im the South and California. It was fairly common by the end of the century.

The 18th Century

The 19th Century

Boys in the early-19th century wore long pants as standard wear and to school. America at the time was beginning to build a public school system. Many boys at the time only got a few years of primary education. This was especially the case in rural areas, although school were being built as areas were settled. In the early-19th century, this process was only beginning. Abraham Lincoln for example had less than a full year of schooling (1810s). There were many children like him. Even so American public education was the nost advanced in the world, except for the German states. Some boys wore tunic to school, but with long trousers. This continued until after mid-century. More children were attending schools for longer periods. At mid-century we begin to see boys wearing shortened-length pants. At first this was very young boys and boys from fashionable city families. But gradually we see older boys wearing mostly knee pants, always with long stockings if not going barefoot. Knee pants were virtually universal by the end of the century, at least in city schools. They were even common for teenagers, althiough not universal.

The 20th Century

Strait leg knee pants continued to dominate boys school wear into the very early-20th century. And this was not just primary school boys. We see teenagers in secondary schools also wearing knee pants, although this was not universal like primary school. American boys always wore knee pants with long stockings, usually black long stockings, unless the boys were going barefoot. Suits were still very common, meaning knee pants suits. For some reasons beginning about 1908, American boys began wearing knickers. This change was not only virtually universal and very sudden--perhaps the nost sudden change in the history of American boys' fasions. And we have no idea whb it occurred. And it only occured in America and countries oriented toward America like Canada. It did not occur in Europe. The youngest boys might still wear knee pants or short pants, but most boys wore or wanted to wear knickers. At about the same time, we see boys in rural schools commonly wearing overalls. Knickers became virtually universal in the 1910s and only slightly less so in the 1920s. This began to change in the late-1920s and especially the 1930s. We see a mix of pants in the 1930s, including short pants, knickers, and long pants. This varied primarily depebnding on the family. By the end of the 1930s knickers were still worn, but long pants were becoming increasingly common, much more so than in Europe. Knickers were rapidly going out of style in the early-40s. Some younger boys wore short pants, but by the end of the 40s, long pants were becoming standard. And at the same time overalls disappeared in rural areas. In fact, small rural schools disappeared as school districts for bodgetary reasons increasingly consolidated schools and bussed the kids into consolidated town schools. We still see short pants being worn by younger boys in the early-1950s. And there was some regional differences, but boys mostly wore long pants to school in the 1950s and 60s. And at the same time school wear was becoming increasingly casual. Short pants were becoming common for casual wear in the 1970s and we begin to see more boys wearing shorts to school again by the mid-1970s. Athletetic style shorts were popular with tube socks. This was at first most common im the South and California. It was fairly common by the end of the century wehen longer, baggy shorts began to become common.

The 21st Century

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Created: 10:11 PM 4/4/2008
Last updated: 6:51 PM 11/23/2022