Figure 1.--This 1921 portrait shows L. Wistar Morris, Jr. at 7-years of age wearing a classic sailor suit with above the knee knickers and long stockings.

L. Wistar Morris, Jr. (United States, 1914- )

L. Wistar Morris, Jr. apparently grew up in Germantown, Pennsylvania. At least he was photographed there in a studio during 1921. He has his hair cut short with a kind of rounded bangs. He wears a clasic sailor suit with above the knee knickers and light-colored long stockings. He was 7 years old when the photograph was taken. The boy's outfit is notable for several reasons. Presumably he wore it to school and was one of his dressup outfits as he had his portrait taken in it. The styling is classic including the three traditional stripes. He wears it, however, without a scarfe or whistle. I'm unsure what kind of cap he wore with it. I'm not sure about the color, but it does not appear to be white. Note the above the knee knickers that were woren in the 1910s and early 20s. Also note the long stockings. In the 1900s and even the 1910s, long stockings were mostly black or dark brown. The one exception was that girls and younger boys might wear white stockings for dressup occassions. The long stockings he wears look to be a tan color, a color that rapidly after World War I (1914-18) replaced the dark stockings. Note that he does not wear a dickey with his sailor suit, suggesting that the portrait was taken during the summer. Even so he still wears long stockings.

The Boy

We know very little about the boy pictured here (figure 1). His nmae was L. Wistar Morris, Jr. apparently grew up in Germantown, Pennsylvania. At least he was photographed there in a studio during 1921. We think that his name may have been reversed and Morris L. Wistar seems more likely. He was 7 years old when the photograph was taken.

Clothing

The boy's outfit and hair style are notable for several reasons.

Cap

I'm unsure what kind of cap he wore with it.

Sailor suit

He wears a clasic sailor suit with above the knee knickers and light-colored long stockings. Presumably he wore it to school and was one of his dressup outfits as he had his portrait taken in it. The styling is classic including the three traditional stripes. He wears it, however, without a scarfe or whistle. Note the above the knee knickers that were woren in the 1910s and early 20s. A HBC reader writes, "Are you certain the boy is wearing above-the-knee and not short pants? They look like short pants to me." HBC is not positive. We do not have the original portrait and thus all we have to go on is the scan shown here. We think that they are knickers for several reasons. Short pants in 1921 were still not common in America. Even the Scouts did not wear them. Most boys wore either kneepants or knickers. Also look at the pants hem on both legs. While not baggy like some knickers, the pants leg does seem to blouse out slightly from the leg. The hem does not appear to be open as with either shorts or kneepants. HBC is also not sure about the color, but the suit does not appear to be white.

Long stockings

Note the long stockings. In the 1900s and even the 1910s, long stockings were mostly black or dark brown. The one exception was that girls and younger boys might wear white stockings for dressup occassions. The long stockings he wears look to be a tan color, a color that rapidly after World War I (1914-18) replaced the dark stockings. Note that he does not wear a dickey with his sailor suit, suggesting that the portrait was taken during the summer. Even so he still wears long stockings.

Hair Style

Wistar's has his hair cut short with a kind of rounded bangs. After World War I (1914-18) long hair for boys passed out of style. Infants might wear ear-length curls, but short hair prevailed. One style for younger boys that was popular were bangs like the boy here is wearing.





Christopher Wagner







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Created: March 27, 2002
Last edited: 5:47 PM 7/5/2007