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We note boys doing First Communion wearing a range of outfits. We do not have much information on the 19th century yet, but have collected some inormation on the 20th century. We see boys wearing dark and white suits. White became more common after World War I. A factor here was the increasing econmic success of iigrant groups. More and more american families could affors a new suit for special occassions. Many boys wear blouses rather than suits. We also notice some what older boys dressed doing their confirmation. Boys doing confirmation almost always wear dark suits. We have collected several examples of confirmations. We have archived a number of American boys on HBC that are doing their Confirmation. They are not always identified, but as far as we can tell seen to be confirmations. The avaiable portraits do not always indicate if the boys were Catholic or Protestant. Details as to the age and nature of these ceremonies are not readily apparent.
We have found very few 19th century American conformation portraits. And the ones we have found come from the late-19th century. We are not entirely sure why, but given our extensive American archive, we believe this is probably a good indicator of actual prevalence.
This cabinent portrait of Albert Staebler was taken in Clevland, Ohio. It is undated, but looks to us as if it was taken in the 1890s. Here the whicker furniture is a clue. Whicker furniture appears after the turn-of-the 20th century, but most cabinent card portraits were taken before the turn of the century. He wears a suit with a long jacket and vest. He looks to be about 13-years old. Note the rosary and what looks like a homberg hat. The rosary meaning that Albert was Catholic. Until after the Civil War, except for the Irish, there were relatively few Catholics in America. Beginning in the 1870s and especially the 80s, very large numbers of European s began emigrating to America, many were from Catholic countries. Cleveland was one of the growing industrial cities that attracted immigrants seeking jobs. A reader writes, "I found that you have a photo of my Great Grand Uncle on your website� Albert Staebler of Cleveland, Ohio. He was born 1884. I should like to note, he is not German. The family hails from Alsace, France and we are Catholic as you surmised."
With the turn of the century we suddenly notice quite a number of confirmation portrits. The same was true of First Communion portraits. We are not sure why all of asudden we begin to see these portraits. The increasing prosperity o the large scale immigration which began in the 1870s may be a factor, but why it would begin so suddenly at or near the turn-of-th century we do not understand. The economic success of the immigrants was a gradual process. And this appearance of confirmation portaits appear so suddenly.
Harold was the oldest brother. He was born April 1899 and died in March 1982. The three older brothers were born fairly close to each other and thus presumably were very close as boys . We suspect that they were as a result dressed similarly. Thus as a younger boy, Harold was probably outfitted in dresses much like the portrait of Richard on the main Crown family page. We do know that the family was Catholic. A portrait of Harold in 1913 shows him wearing his Confirmation suit. Or is the suit for First Communion. We are not sure about these early portraits. Harold seems to be about 13 or 14 years old.
This studio portrait shows an unidentified Chicsgo boy wearing his Confirmation suit in 1913. He looks to be about 13 years old and is wearing a double-breasted jacket with wide lapels and boutonniere. We can't mzake up the collar and tie. It is a knickers suit with black long stockings and high top shoes. Aldo note his leather gloves. Note his fedora hat on the chair. He is holding a missile amd confirmation scroll.
The Christian foundation of America continues to leave a profound impact on the country. Unlike the Spanish who did not allow any but the state approved Catholic Church to be established in their colonies, the first English colonies were established by dissenting denominmations. And over time an amazing diversity of denominations developed in America. Identifying Protestant denominations is difficult, except for perhaps the Lutherans. This unidentified boy who we believe to be of German ancestry is doing his Lutheran confirmation in 1914. Note the rossary and missal.
Here we have another First Communion portrait, or at least we think it is a First Communion portrait. There are four children in the portrait. We think it is the older children having their First Communions. The older boy is Cletus Hullen. He wears a dark suit. You can not tell from the scan here, but he is wearing a knicketrs suit. The younger boy is Henry Oelschlagen. He wears a white shirt and white kneepants with white long stockings. Boys did not commonly wear white long stockings, but younger boys might werar them for special occassions. The unusual aspect of this portrait is the little boy is dressed up, even wearing white long stockings, but wearing them with canvas shoes--sneakers. HBC has developed some information on the color of long stockings during the 1910s. This is the only instance we have ever noted thast. The girls are Margatet and Jeneviene Budina. I'm not sure what the younger children are doing with the older children. The portrait is undated and do not know where in America the portrait was taken.
Here is a Lutheran confirmation class, taken in Rochester, New York, in 1932. The boys and girls, who seem to be between about 12 and 14 years of age, are all dressed very formally for
the ceremony. The Lutheran pastor sits in the center. The girls are dressed in white dresses with white long stockings. Notice the rather grown-up marcelled or waved hair-dos. The boys wear dark knicker suits with white shirts and white ties
An American who attended Catholic parochial schools in the 1950s and 60s tell us about his school uniform and his First Communion and Confirmation suits. I noted the several Holy Communion photos on the HBC site. In one American image, the man standing by the this boy is his sponsor and such photos were very typically to commemorate the event here in the United States. First Communion is normally done in the Second Grade at a Catholic school. White was the color for the Holy Communion kids and we boys had a long sleeve shirt with a white bow-tie and white short pants like our uniform length: fingertip length when standing straight with knee socks and white dress shoes. Confirmation is a Catholic event for 12 to 13 year-olds and that is typically done in the 7th grade.
One American contributor to HBC recalls a frather touching confirmation suit his mother made for him because they did not have money for a new suit.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site religious pages:
[Return to the Main American confirmation page]
[Return to the Main American religious page]
[Return to the Main Country Confirmation page]
[Return to the Main communion page]
[First Communion]
[Confirmation]
[Ring bearer]
[Victorian wedding]
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Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
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Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
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