Figure 1.--This CDV portrait is unidentified, but we know he was from New York City. The boyb looks about 3 years old. We believe the portrait was taken in the early-1870s. The square corners of the CDV and white stockings suggest the 1860s, but the pose and outfit suggest the 70s. Thus we believe that the portrait was taken in the early-70s. The boy looks to be about 3 years old. The ringlet curls are very carefully dome and long. There is a double part. Motice how mother has carefullu positioned the curls on the boys shouilders so they would show in the portrait.

U.S. Boys' Ringlet Curl Chronology (1870s)

Most American boys in the 1870s wore shorter hair than in the 1860s, but we still see some boys with hair cuts that extended their hair to their ears, especially during the early-70s. We do not see very many boys with ringlet curls in the 1870s. As far as we can tell, it was not very common. We note some boys wearing ringlet curls, substantially more than the 1860s, but still a very small proprtion of the overall photographic record. Generally speaking the trend was toward shorter hairs in the 1870s. Men and boys at mid-century tended to wear their hair long, even over their ears. This was much less common by the 1870s. Photography was well established in the 1870s so the photographic record is probably a good indication of the relative popularity of hair styles. We tend to see more girls with ringlets than boys in the 70s. This was especially true of school-age children. We do, however, as in the 1860s see a few boys wearing ringlets. And we see a general trend to differentiate the hair styles of brothers and sisters. The photographic images we have found of boys wearing ringlets tend to styles different than those worn by their sisters. This these, however, needs to be confirmed because family images are rarer than individual portraits. A good example of an individual portrait during the 70s is Frank Tuche. On the previous page is an unidentified Providence boy, probably from the late 1860s or early 70s (figure 1). We notice Robert Stanley Mitcheson. about 1870 wearing a Highland kilt outfit with ringlet curls. The photograph is by the Manchesten Bros., Providence, Rhode Island. I believe that this is a boy. The fact that the child has a book is one clue that he is a boy. He also can be identified because he is wearing a suit jacket. We also an unidetified Philadelphi boy. He has his hair done at the front like a short cut, but ringlets in the back. We notice Andrew Richardson with ringlets not quite touching his sholders in 1875.

Shorter Styles

Most American boys in the 1870s wore shorter hair than in the 1860s, but we still see some boys with hair cuts that extended their hair to their ears, especially during the early-70s. Generally speaking the trend was toward shorter hairs in the 1870s. Men and boys at mid-century tended to wear their hair long, even over their ears. This was much less common by the 1870s. Photography was well established in the 1870s so the photographic record is probably a good indication of the relative popularity of hair styles. And the declining cost meant that the boas toward the affluent segment of society was less pronounced than at mid-cntury.

Small Number of Ringlets

We do not see very many boys with ringlet curls in the 1870s. As far as we can tell, it was not very common. We note some boys wearing ringlet curls, substantially more than the 1860s, but still a very small proprtion of the overall photographic record.

Gender

We tend to see more girls with ringlets than boys in the 70s, although this is only a preliminary assessment. . This was especially true of school-age children. We do, however, as in the 1860s see a few boys wearing ringlets. And we see a general trend to differentiate the hair styles of brothers and sisters. The photographic images we have found of boys wearing ringlets tend to styles different than those worn by their sisters. This these, however, needs to be confirmed because family images are rarer than individual portraits.

Styling

We see boys wearing several different dtyles of ringlet curls in the 1870s. One notable trend is the bangs commonly associated with ringlets by the 1880s o not seem as common in the 1870s. Many boys have their swept back in various ways exposing their foreheads. The boy here is a good example (figure 1). Another good example is Frank Tuche. This is a reflection of the fact that bangs were not yet a major style for boys. And without bangs, it was difficult to hide a center part that was generally associated with girls' hair styles. Also we see many boys with ringlets that were mot tightly curled. Long ringlets wee the most common, but we we notice some rather short ringlets. We also an unidetified Philadelphia boy. He has his hair done at the front like a short cut, but ringlets in the back. We notice Andrew Richardson with ringlets not quite touching his sholders in 1875.

Ages

The examples of boys wearing ringlet curls that we have found from the 1870s are younger boys. All look to be pre-school boys, about 3-5 years old. All of the images we have found so far seem to fall in that age range. Most of the available images do not indicate the children's ages, so we have to estimate the ages. We believe, however, have that we are generally accuate to within a year. We have fairly large archive so that is is probably aeasonavly accurate age assessment. That is not to say that no school-age boys had ringlets. It does suggest that it was not very common. Of course it was mostly pre-school boys with ringlets in the late-19th century as well. But in the late-19th century we see some younger school-age boys with ringlets as well. We are still worrking on girl trends. We are not yet csure about the age trends for girls. Or how it affected the age trends for noys when girls were in the family.

Clothing

We see boys wearing all sorts of clothing with ringlet curls in the 1870s. Most of the available portraits show very fashionably dressed children. This confirms our assessment that ringlets were a stule most common in affluent fashionable families. We note boys not yet breeched wearing dresses and kilt suits. We also see Highland kilt outfits, although they were not as common as kilt suits. We notice Robert Stanley Mitcheson. about 1870 wearing a Highland kilt outfit with ringlet curls. The photograph is by the Manchesten Bros., Providence, Rhode Island. I believe that this is a boy. The fact that the child has a book is one clue that he is a boy. He also can be identified because he is wearing a suit jacket. And girls did not wear kilts. We notice boys with ringlets dressed in a variety of juvenile suits, usually knee pants suits. On the previous page is an unidentified Providence boy, probably from the late 1860s or early 70s wearing a velvet suit. By the late-70s we see more boys with ringlets wearing sailor suits which was becoming an increasingly popular style.








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Created: 7:20 PM 9/12/2010
Last edited: 11:08 PM 10/6/2017