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Chile is one of the geographic odities amomg countries. It has to be the narowest of any substantial country. It occupies mist of the Pacific coast of southern South America. The Cold Humboldt Current flowing up the coast creates a massive fish population and in the north, one of the driest deserts n the world. Quechua-speaking tribes inhabited the northern region of what is now Chile. Araucanian tribes dominated central Chile. The Inca came to dominte much of Chile, but were resisted by the fierce Araucanian tribes who prevented the Inca from moving further south. At stake was Chile's fertile central valley south of modern Santiago. There are both European an Native American components. Native American groups held out longer in Chile than other South American countries. The primaryEuropean group is Spanish. There is a small German community. The largest Gypsy community in South America is Chilean. Latin American boys like Chile basically followed European fashion trends, especially wealthy and middle-class boys. Spain may have been important, but other countries, including England, France, and Germany were the major influences. After World War II (1939-45), American fashions became increasingly important. We have very little information on Chile. Hopefully our Chilean readers will provide more information about clothing trends in their country.
Chile is one of the geographic odities amomg countries. It has to be the narowest of any substantial country. It occupies mist of the Pacific coast of southern South America. The Cold Humboldt Current flowing up the coast creates a massive fish population and in the north, one of the driest deserts n the world.
Quechua-speaking tribes inhabited the northern region of what is now Chile. Araucanian tribes dominated central Chile. The Inca came to dominte much of Chile, but were resisted by the fierce Araucanian tribes who prevented the Inca from moving further south. At stake was Chile's fertile central valley south of modern Santiago. Chile did not have the allure of Mexico and Peru as there were no civilized tribes with hordes of gold. Many of the early Spanish settlers were from Andalucia. Settlement was concentrated in central Chile rather than the inhospitable, arid north. The central valley of Chile had a pleasant climate and fertile soil. Chile as a Spanish colony was a Captincy General part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. It was dominated by large pastiral holdings. The south remained controlled by the Araucanians until the 19th century. The Chileans persued independence during the Napoleonic Wars. They declared independence (1810). Independence resulted in a period of instability. The Royalists prevailed at the Rancagua (1814) and the Spanish managed to restore control. This led to an invasion by a mixed Argentinian and Chilean force which defeated the Spanish roylist army at Maipu (1818). Boundary desputes emerged with Bolivia and Peru in the north leading to the War of the Pacific. Chile until the War of the Pacific was alargely agricultural country with only limited foreign trade. The nitrate and copper mines significantly diversified the economy. The TransAndine Railway was built. The Chilean economy became integrated into the world economy and impacted by changes in workd prices. Chile developed a multiparty, parliamentary system after the War of the Pacific, but the parties were dominated by upper-class interests, especially landowners and businessmen.
Note: About the two brothers in the 1887 portrait (figure 1). They clearly show the influence of English fashion, but their father was a diplomat. I'm not sure how common Eton collars were with boys actually living in Chile. The two boys went on to lead very differt lives. Pedro holding the paper became an artist and then switched to the more sober existence of a Benedictine monk. He later built a massive monestary in Santiago. Luis followed his father's footsteps, becoming a diplomat.
Chilean boy's fashions followed the same basic fashion trends as in Europe.
Styles like Eton suits and sailor suits were popular in the late 19th
Century. They were commonly worn with kneepants. I'm not sure if Fauntleroy suits
and ringlet curls were popular. The one image I have from the 1880s shows two boys
wearing rather severe black velvet suits with exagerated Eton rather than Fauntleroy collars
and without matching wrist trim.
Kneepants continued to be worn in the early 20th Cebntury. While some younger
boys began wearing short pants in the 1910s, long pants became increasingly common.
We have little information on boyhood activities in Chile at this time. Our Chilean archives is very limited. This probably reflects the fact that Chile has a relatively small population. We notice children enjoying an urban park in Chile. Latin American cities and towns tend to have a central park known as yje plaza, The church is on on side and the city hall on the other. The lpalza has a circumference walk way and interiir walk ways with garden planyings. Benches are sactered around the plaza. There are not a lot of activities for children, but teenagers like to walk around. The major cities like Santiago have a number of interesting parks. We have one park sacene from Viņa del Mar. The most imprtant of course was school. Chile had one of the best education stytems in South America. Chile was a primarily Catholic country and religion played an important role in the lives of children. Sports are popular, but largely dominated by soccer known as futbol. Youth groups are of a lesser imporance. We do have some information on Chilean Boy Scouts. Membership was fairly limited.
A variety of institutions served children. As in other countries, the most imporant were the schools. There were also health institutions. We hve limited information, but have a few details on santoria to treat tuburclosis ptients, a major health problem in Chile. Another important institution was orphanages.
Latin American boys like Chile basically followed European fashion trends, especially wealthy and middle-class boys. Spain may have been important, but Spain was a declining country by the late 19th Cntury and other countries, especially England, France, and Germany may have been of greater
importance. Short pants, however, were never as common in Chile as in Europe.
Small boys might wear them, but not older boys. After World War
II (1939-45), American fashions became increasingly important.
Family information is quite useful. It provides both valuable sociolgical information as well insights as what adult and girls' fashions were associated with the various boys' fashions discussed in HBC. We have only begun to acquire information on Chilean families and thus have very little material at this time. We have found much less information on Latin American than on Europe. We note the Munizaga family in 1920. They were living in Washington, D.C. where the father was a councelor at the Chilean Embassy. We note an unidentified Chilean family on a family outing during 1945.
We do not yet know much anout Chilean ethnic groups. There are both European an Native American components. Native American groups held out longer in Chile than other South American countries. The primaryEuropean group is Spanish. There is a small German community. We notice a German School.
The largest Gypsy community in South America is Chilean. We are unsure why Gysys have been particularly attracted to Chile.
A famous Chilean is the child piano prodigy Claudio Arrau (1903- ). H was born in Chie, but went to Germany to studyat the age of 7 years.
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