** school United States -- individual schools Western Reserve Academy schoolwear 1920s




Western Reserve Academy: Schoolwear during the 1920s


Figure 1.-- This photograph shows a group of WRA boys standing in front of a heavily foliaged building, the Loomis Observatory, in 1929. These boys belonged to the Western Reserve Academy Astronomy Club. They look like Freshman (called "Frosh" then), which would make them about 14 uears old. Here knickers are virtually universal although one boy may be wearing long trousers. Image cpirtesy of WRA.

WRA did not have a school uniform as such. There was, however, a dress code. Suits were stanfrd wear. WRA boys had to wear collared shirts and ties. Almost all the younger boys wore knickers in the 1920s. They were not required by the school, but most of the parents at the time thought them approprite for boys. Most of the boys would have coe from affluent, conservative families. This would have been a factor in their clothing.

Library (1925)

This photo from WRA was taken in the librry during 1925. It shows three of the boys that year studying. From left to right the boys are Jack Looker (15 years old), Allan Ayers (17 years old), and John Lea (16 years old). Even when not in class, WRA boys had to wear collared shirts and ties during the 1920s. Jack wears a dark jacket with white shirt and striped tie. He is probably wearing a suit with matching trousers, probably knickers, although we can't see his legs. Boys during the 1920s, especially in conservative schools like WRA, commonly wore knickers until at least the age of 16.

New Boys (1929)

A photograph shows a group of WRA boys standing in front of a heavily foliaged building, the Loomis Observatory, in 1929. These boys belonged to the Western Reserve Academy Astronomy Club. They look like Freshman (called "Frosh" then), which would make them about 14 uears old. Here knickers are virtually universal although one boy may be wearing long trousers. It is hard to tell what kind of pants the boy standing next to the boy at the extreme right is wearing. This boy also wears a WRA beanie whereas the others are all bare-headed. Many private schools had a tradition that required the new boys to wear a beanie for a time as part of an initiation ritual. Perhaps this is one of those beanies, although we are not sure. Some of the boys here wear cardigan or pullover sweaters with their shirts and ties whereas other boys wear suits. Note the hosiery of the boys wearing knickers. Some boys wear patterned knee socks which appear to have cuffs whereas others wear the somewhat more formal plain beige stockings.












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
[First Communion] [Confirmation] [Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Knee pants] [Knickers] [Knee socks] [Long stockings] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Button-on clothing] [Blazer] [School sandals] [Bangs]



Navigate the HBC School Section:
[Return to the Main WRA school page]
[Return to the Main National School Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Poland] [Singapore] [Scotland]
[Singapore]



Navigate the HBC School Section:
[Return to the Main 1920s individual school page]
[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: April 22, 2004
Last updated: 6:54 PM 9/10/2007