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Public schools began to develop in the early 19th century. They were controlled by protetant officials who in many cases were hostile to Catholocism. As large numbers of Catholic immigrants (primarily Irish) began to arrive in the 1840s, the Church decided to create their own separate Catholic schools. Suceeding waves of immigration from Catholic countries (especially Italy) greatly expanded the U.S. Catholic population. The Catholic schools at one pont were education more than 20 percent of American children. The Catholic schools unlike the state public schools insisted on a school uniform. I'm not sure why the Church made this decision, but may be due to the Irish and Italian influence or the fact that immigrant Americans were generally low income families and would be sensitive to preceived differrences in the clothing that poorer children might be wearing. The uniforms worn by the boys are usually white shirts and ties, sweater, and solid color--often blue pants. Usually thevboys wore long pants, but many elementary schools now permit shorts.
Public schools began to develop in the early 19th century. They were controlled by protetant officials who in many cases were hostile to Catholocism. As large numbers of Catholic immigrants (primarily Irish) began to arrive in the 1840s, the Church decided to create their own separate Catholic schools.
Suceeding waves of immigration from Catholic countries (especially Italy) greatly expanded the U.S. Catholic population.
The Catholic schools at one pont were education more than 20 percent of American children.
Catholic schools began adopting uniforms long before public schools began to use them. Our information on actual Catholic school uniforms, however, is very limited at this time.
Uniforms are now common at Catholic schools. HBC is, however, not sure when uniforms were introduced. We believe that the uniforms were mostly introduced after World War II (1939-45), but this requires confirmation. We have very little information about individual Catholic schools. A HBC reader tells us that his Catholic school had uniforms in the 1940s. "I remember well what we wore as uniforms in the late-1940s, when I attended Catholic Junior High School in San Diego, California. The pants were gray corduroy, and we wore white long sleeve shirts and gray woolen sweaters." The School of the Cathedral Mary Our Queen appears to have introduced uniforms in the 1960s, but we are not positive about this.
The Catholic schools unlike the state public schools insisted on a school uniform. I'm not sure why the Church made this decision, but may be due to the Irish and Italian influence or the fact that immigrant Americans were generally low income families and would be sensitive to preceived differrences in the clothing that poorer children might be wearing.
Most Catholic schools, both primary (elementary) and secondary schools have required uniforms--usually simple uniforms.
Primary schools: The uniforms worn by the boys are usually white shirts and ties, sweater, and solid color--often blue pants. Usually thevboys wore long pants, but many elementary schools now permit shorts. A HBC reader reports in 2001 that "We have three parish schools in our area. The students all wear uniforms. The boys blue long sleeved shirts and long pants in the cold months. Short sleeved shirts and blue shorts in the warmer months. First grade through 8th. For the most part they look sharp excepting where you have a sloppy working mother. The girls have nice plaid (blue) skirts and blouses. In these post Vatican II days pulled up irregardless of age or configuration above their waists and in many cases ridiculous earrings. O tempora o mores.
Secondary schools: A HBC reader reports in 2001, "We have three Jesuit post Vat II Boy High schools. In my days, the boys at two of the schools wore suits and ties and were most noticeable for their sharp image. The third was a military high school. Blue uniform with white stripe on the pants. They always looked sharp ready for inspection. Today the two that wore suits now dress like the public schools only more expensive. The military school when they wear a uniform it is the color of the British Army battle dress and usually what would be called out of uniform. No cap, buttons open, etc. Not all Catholic schools required uniforms. One former Catholic school boy reports, "The Catholic school I went to as a kid did not have uniforms because they considered they were to expensive for some of the students. In this very small town and with casual glances it is quite easy to tell who has a
good quality uniform and who has a poor quality one. Most are very poor. The kids know ho has the money and who does not. It is as artificial as "blue" , "red",
and "green" reading groups. The kids know which group the dummies are in.
Catholic children attending Catholic schools generally did their First Comminions as a group through the school. In such instances the school set a standard suit style or dress code. The HBC First Communion section has both group and individual portraits. The outfits, however, are not indicators as to how the children dressed at school. We will eventually list the group portraits here.
Catholic diasis began organizing schools after the mid-19th century. We have not yet found details about 19th century schools. We do have some information about the 20th century. We have not We have few Catholic schools in our archive at this time. We see the St. Nicholas Greek School in Newark, New Jersey during 1906. One school is the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore Maryland during 1926. We note an unidentified Catholic school in Lille, Maine during 1942. The photographs shows a classroom scene.
A HBC reader tells us that his Catholic school had uniforms in the 1940s. "I remember well what we wore as uniforms in the late-1940s, when I attended Catholic Junior High School in San Diego, California. The pants were gray corduroy, and we wore white long sleeve shirts and gray woolen sweaters." Another reader tells us about his private Catholic schoo in the 1950s. Another reader tells us about two Catholic schools that he had attended in the 1960s. One former parochial school student recalls purchasing uniform shoes.
Related Links: Careful this will exit you from the Boys' Historical Clothing web site, but both sites are highly recommended.
Apertures Press New Zealand E-book: New book on New Zealand schools available
School Uniform Web SiteInformative review of British school uniforms with some excellent photographs
Boys' Preparatory SchoolsLovely photographic essay of British preparatory schools during the 1980s containing over 200 color and black and white photographs.
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