Figure 1.--This photograpgh is undated, but we believe that it was taken in the 1970s at a Young Pioneer Camp. This coed group looks to be youths of 15-16 years. Note the boys at back in darker not white shirts. Also notice the caps worn under the epaultes on their houlder. Unfortunately the banner offers nothing to indicate where the photograph was taken.

HBC has acquired considrable infomation on Pioneer uniforms during the 1970s. The boys and girls uniform was quite similar. The boys had overseas caps. Both boys and girls wore white shirts. The boys wore blue pants, long pants during much of the year, but short pants during the summer--especially at summer camps. "Cornflower-blue" was the official color description of the uniform pants, both longs and shorts. White kneesocks were worn by with short pants and by girls, bit not by all children. Boys wore a variety of footwear, including sandals and sneakers. Knee socks became very popular in the 1970s. Boys very much frequently wore kneesocks of different colors. The shorts become even shorter. The uniform becomes a white shirt, dark blue shirts, with a brown belt, and knee socks. White kneesocks were often worn for formal ccassions. The Russian words on the banner "All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V. I. Lenin". I thought it might offer some detail, about where the photograph was taken, but apparently it was an all-purpose banner.

The Uniform

HBC has acquired considrable infomation on Pioneer uniforms during the 1970s. The boys and girls uniform was quite similar. The boys had overseas caps. Both boys and girls wore white shirts. Note the boys at back in darker not white shirts. Apparently there was a regular dark shirt and then a white shirt worn on dress occasions. The boys wore blue pants, long pants during much of the year, but short pants during the summer--especially at summer camps. "Cornflower-blue" was the official color description of the uniform pants, both longs and shorts. White kneesocks were worn by with short pants and by girls, bit not by all children. Boys wore a variety of footwear, including sandals and sneakers. Knee socks became very popular in the 1970s. Boys very much frequently wore kneesocks of different colors. The shorts become even shorter. The uniform becomes a white shirt, dark blue shirts, with a brown belt, and knee socks. White kneesocks were often worn for formal ccassions.

The Banner

The Russian words on the banner "All-Union Pioneer Organization named after V. I. Lenin". I thought it might offer some detail, about where the photograph was taken, but apparently it was an all-purpose banner. The dedication was added after Lenin's death. It was a feature of important Soviet institutions that after their name they have the phrase "named after/by name of" then the person whose memory is linked to the institution.