Figure 1.-- This CDV depicts an unidentified boy who looks to be about 2-3 years old with loosely formed ringlet curls. He wears an early sailor suit, a garment which wasjust beginning to be an important style. The portrait is undated, but we believe it was taken in the late-1870s. There is a 1874 medal award reproduced on the back of the card. Our experience is tht this is usually done when the medals are just awarded and after a few years. The early-80s is possible, butvthe late-70s is more likely, especilly as the DDV format was less common in the 80s. The studio was Richardson on Broadway in Brooklyn, E.D. New York.

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 style most common with 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.

Fashionable Clothes

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 style most common with affluent, fashionable families.

Skirted Garments

We note boys not yet breeched wearing various skirted garments, especially dresses and kilt suits. A good example is an unidentified Lynn, Machachusettes boy wearing a plaid dress. Plaid dresses were popular for boys because the plaid pattern they had a kilt look about it. The portrait is undated, but as it is a CDV, we ould guess it was taken in the 1870s. He looks to be about 3-years old. 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. Tht was not so common in America. 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. On the previous page is an unidentified Providence boy, probably from the late 1860s or early 70s wearing a velvet kilt suit.

Pants Suits

We notice boys with ringlets dressed in a variety of juvenile suits, usually knee pants suits. There were a range of different styles. 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: 6:40 AM 9/24/2011
Last edited: 11:43 PM 5/17/2013