Figure 1.--This U.S. Boy Scout looks to have been photographed in the late 1920s or early 1930s. He wears heavy kneesocks, pulled up over the bottom of his knickers.

While American Scouts did not take to the European style short pants uniforms, they did adopt the kneesocks. Having to wear long stockings and hose supporters would have been rather awkward for active camping expeditions. Most American Scouts through the 1930s wore their kneesocks with knicker uniforms. Shorts were worn, however, at the first National Jamboree in 1937 and they were commonly worn at Scout camps--with kneesocks. American Scouts in the 1960s finally began to weear the short pants uniform more commonly--always with kneesocks. Scout kneesocks were made in the long turn-over-top style. While shorts grew in popularity during the 1970s, kneesocks did not and many boys would wear their Scout and Cub shorts informally woth other socks, often tube socks in the 1970s and ankle socks by the mid-1980s. The new Scout uniform redesigned in 1981 include colored athletic socks instead of the traditional Scout socks. Both before and after the uniform shift, both Cub and Scout kneesocks were made in the same style--only different colors.

The 1930s

Boy Scouts wore heavy kneesocks that were pulled up to cover the hem of the knickers.

The 1970s

Scouts were increasingly wearing the short pants uniform. The uniform kneesocks were green turn-over-top knhee socks that were worn cuffed. Not all boys wore the officicial kneesocks with shorts, but they were a required part of the short pants or summer uniform.

The 1980s

The new uniform introduced in 1981 had athletic socks to replace the green kneesocks. They were a dark green with red tops. A Scout in the 1980s remembers if a scout let his socks sag, they'd get yelled at (usually, just saying "Socks!" in the general direction of the troop was sufficient reminder for scouts to check their socks and pull them up as needed). The Uniform Inspection Sheet was very specific about the top of the socks being 1" below the knee.

The 1990s

Scouts continued the same uniform style introduced in the 1980s. There were some minor changes. The traditional Scout kneesocks became increasingly unpopular in the 1990s. Boys no longer wore kneesovks--not even atletic tube socks and to many biys kneesocks did not make sence for summer wear with shorts. The longer, baggy shorts and socks down at the ankles seem to have completely taken over by the mid-1990s. The BSA has changed the socks to an ankle style in the same colors. I do not think that Scout kneesocks are also made, but am unsure about this.

The 2000s

The longer, baggy shorts and socks down at the ankles continued popular in the early 2000s.