Figure 1.--This unidentified boy was 5 years old. He lived in or near Chicago. The AZO stamp box tells us it was dated 1904-18. We would guess it was taken about 1905-10. The portrait was sent to grandmother Russer, probably by the boys mother--Mrs. W.H. Haisb (the writing is indestinct. He is wearing leffings with his tunic, something we do not see very often. His hair is done in bangs which was common.

We have little information about age conventions during the early 19th century. A good example is American boy Hewett Lindsley in 1910. We note 5-year olds wearing tunics in the mid-19th century. A good example was Russel Parsons in 1869. The tunic was realatively short. Tunics were also very common for 5 year olds at the turn-of-the 20th century. This of course reflects the popularity of tunics for pre-school boys. We note quite a large number of boys who look to be about 5 years old. The catalogs confirm that the age range commonly included 5 year olds. Only in the late 1910s and early 20s as the tunic suit was going out of style do we see the age range being narowed to 4 year olds. We see boys wearing them both in formal studio portraits and in family snapshots. We also see tunics being done in many different styles for 5 year old. When a range of styles are offered, that suggests that the garment was especially popular. Most tunic suits we have noted include 5 year olds within the age range. A New York store Siegal Cooper in 1904 offered a standard tunic suit called a Russian blouse suit in sizes 2 1/2 to 7 years. It was the same style for the entire age range. This seems to have been a common convention. We notice Sprage's "Allin-1" Play suit in 1909 which looks rather like a tunic suit with the tunic blouse tucked in. It was made in the standard 2 1/2 to 8 size range. Another example is an unidentified Reading boy. He wears an added bow tie.W e still see a lot of American boys at age 5 years wearing tunic suits. This is because most boys that age are not yet attending school. Once school starts, usually at 6 years of age, we see fewer boys wearing tunics. The early primary years are still within the age range of tunics, but notably we do not see lot of boys weaing tunics to school. We do see boys 6-7 years of age weariung tunics in snapshots and srudio portraits, but not very many wear the tunics to school even among the 6-year old first graders. This is very clear in school porttaits which were were taken in large number by the 1900s. Some boys ttended pre-scjool nd kinfdergrden, but that was not bnearly as common uim the eraly 20th century as it is now.

Chronology

The age conventions for tunic suits varied over time. We have little information about age conventions during the early-19th century. At the time younger boys commonly wore dresses. We note some school-age boys wearing tunics. Age 5 was kind of an intermediate age. We believe this was probably the age at which boys began wearing tunics, but our information is very limited. We note 5-year olds wearing tunics in the mid-19th century. We note quite a number of boys in the 1840s and 50s wearing them. A good example is an unidentified boy about 1850. They continued to be popular in the 1860s and 70s. A good example was Russel Parsons in 1869. The tunic was realatively short. Tunics were also very common for 5 year olds at the turn-of-the 20th century. This of course reflects the popularity of tunics for pre-school boys. We note quite a large number of boys who look to be about 5 years old. A good example is American boy Hewett Lindsley in 1910. Another example is an unidentified with his three older brothers in the early-1910s. The school age boys all wear blouses and knickers.

Age

We still see a lot of American boys at age 5 years wearing tiunic suits. This is because most boys that age are not yet attending school. Once school starts, usually atb6 years of age, we see fewer boiys wearing tunics. The early prmary years are still within the age range of tunics , but notably we do not see lot of boys weaing tunics to school. We do see noys 6-7 years of age weariung tunics in snapshots and srudio portraits, but not very many wear the tunics to school even among the 6-year old girst graders. This is very ckear in school porttaits which were were taken in large number by the 1900s.

Catalogs

Our catalog coverage is limited. we have few catalog lisgings from the 19th cntury until the 1890s. The early-20th century catalogs confirm that the age range commonly included 5 year olds. Only in the late 1910s and early 20s as the tunic suit was going out of style do we see the age range being narowed to 4 year olds.

Popularity

We see boys at age 5 commonly wearing tunics both in formal studio portraits and in family snapshots. We also see tunics being done in many different styles for 5 year old. When a range of styles are offered, that suggests that the garment was especially popular. Most tunic suits we have noted include 5 year olds within the age range. A New York store Siegal Cooper in 1904 offered a standard tunic suit called a Russian blouse suit in sizes 2 1/2 to 7 years. It was the same style for the entire age range. This seems to have been a common convention. After age 5 years, boys began school. Thus we see fewer boys wearing tunics at age 6 years. Tunics were made to size 8 years, but they were less popular for school age children than for pre-schoolers. A few boys wore them to school, but not very many.

Blouse

We notice Sprage's "Allin-1" Play suit in 1909 which looks rather like a tunic suit with the tunic blouse tucked in. It was made in the standard 2 1/2 to 8 size range. Another example is an unidentified Reading boy. He wears an added bow tie.

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Created: 9:00 PM 7/6/2008
Last edited: 3:17 AM 11/18/2011