Figure 1.--This postcard format portrait looks to have been taken during World War I. This boy was M.H.Tappan, Jr. who grew up to be a prominent jeweler in Sherman, Texas. Many boys during the 1910s had military or other costumes, including cowboys, Indians, firemen, policmen, etc. We suspect the portrait was taken in 1917 or'18, but it is not dated. It was quite "de rigeur" for American moms and dads to have their kids dress up like soldiers and nurses and loved to have their photographs taken in the costumes.
M. H. Tappan (United States, 1917-18)
This postcard format portrait looks to have been taken during World War I. This boy was M.H.Tappan, Jr. who grew up to be a prominent jeweler in Sherman, Texas. Many boys during the 1910s had military or other costumes, including cowboys, Indians, firemen, policmen, etc. We suspect the portrait was taken in 1917 or'18, but it is not dated. It was quite "de rigeur" for American moms and dads to have their kids dress up like soldiers and nurses and loved to have their photographs taken in the costumes. Another possibility is that it could be a Boy Scout uniform, although he is not giving the Scout salute.
