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Most of the U.S. military schools were organized on army lines. Thus the uniforms were styled like U.S. army uniforms. Styles have generally changed over time as U.S. Army uniforms have changed. Some of the uniforms were styled like actual military uniforms. Others were styled like Westv Point cadet uniforms, The uniforms mostly entailed long pants uniforms, but some late 19th or early 20th century uniforms included kneepants. A naval military school had white short pants, I believe as a seasonal uniform. Most of these schools were secondary sdchools--rather strict preparatory schools in the American sence. Other schools were primary (elementary) schools for younger boys. This also affected uniform styles.
Most of the U.S. military schools were organized on army lines. Thus the uniforms were mostly styled like U.S. army uniforms. There was, however, at least one naval school. The aor forcer as a sparate brvch ws not establisjed until after Woirld War II. As far as we know, however, there are no schools with a deddiucated air force ethis.
Styles have generally changed over time as U.S. Army uniforms have changed. Some schools have used the West Point cadet style uniform, but most American military schools have followed the various uniform changes over time of the U.S. Army and Navy in one way or the other. Many avaialble images are undated, but by comparing them to the established dates for military uniforms, some dates can be estimated.
Some of the uniforms were styled like actual military uniforms, primarily Army uniforms. With a fewe exceptiins, military schools were the only schools we see with uniforms for the boys. Others were styled more like West Point cadet uniforms. Only the West Point styles dis not change much. The uniforms tended to change as military uniforms changes. After the Civil War, uniforms styles esprcially the caps were primarily Civil War styles which did not change for some time. They did not change substantially until after the turn-of-the 20th century. Popular designs were also an influence. After knee pants began to become common, we see many schoold adopging them for the junior boys as we can see here (figure 1).
HBC has begun to acquire some information showing the kinds of garments that have been worn at American military schools. The basic trend was to follow American military uniforms. While this was the general rule, that does not mean that every school had a uniform identical with contemporary American military uniforms. Most schools followed U.S. Army unifoms. West Point was also influential. There was one well-known naval mlitary school. American military uniforms changed over time. The schools often did not change their uniforms immediately when the Army chanhed its uniform. The Civil War was one of the most traumatic event in American history. It strongly affected many aspects of American life. Many military schools adopted Civil War style uniforms nd kept them for years, even after the army made major changes in the uniforms. The Civil War kepi camp was, for example, worn foir decades after the War at many schools. Some schools were more prone to asdopt more modern uniforms or were even influenced by changing civilian fashions. Some schools even adopted knee pants which became almost universal for boys around the turn-of-the 20th century. Some schools adopted more showy uniforms than actual Army uniforms.
Most of these schools were secondary schools--rather strict preparatory schools in the American sence. Other schools were primary (elementary) schools for younger boys. For the most part the twso levels were separate schools. The level to a dedgree affected uniform styles.
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