Figure 1.--Pets were enjoyed by children over time. And the Victorian era with industrialization and urbanuzation, pets were commonly brought into the home for the first time. Dogs and cats were the principal, but not the only pets. This boy is Jimmie. The samp box (AZO four upward tringles) dates the snap shot to 1904-18. We would guess this boy was photographed about 1910. This little boy was named Jimmie. The message on the card read, "This is for Grandpa and Grandma from their little boy."

We have begun to collect information on boys' activities over time. We do not know much about the 18th century. There were toys, but mostly home made toys. Sports were not yet well developed, especially in frontier America. Hunting and fishing were popular activities. Most Americans lived in rural areas and this of course affected the activities in which they engaged. Chores on the farm would have been high on he list. Major changes occurred in the 19th century. America was still mostly rural at the beginning of the century. This farm chores and hunting and fishing were major activities. The public school system steadily increased in importance, so school became increasingly important. Urbanization and industrialization brought important changes. Pets were brought into the home for the first time by average families. We see more manufactured toys, both wood and cast iron. Hoops were popular throughout the 19th century. Sports grew in importance and were very popular by the end of the century. The 20th century brought more change. And we know a great deal about these changes thanks to the home snapshots made possible by the Kodak Browie and similar cameras. Sports came into their own. and with more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance. Toys became increasibngly sophisticated. A range of vehichles were built for children. And of course as child labor laws were passed, work became less important and school grew in improtance. Currently we only have a page on the 1920s.

The 18th Century

We have begun to collect information on boys' activities over time. We do not know much about the 18th century. There were toys, but mostly home made toys. Sports were not yet well developed, especially in frontier America. Hunting and fishing were popular activities. Most Americans lived in rural areas and this of course affected the activities in which they engaged. Chores on the farm would have been high on he list.

The 19th Century

Major changes occurred in the 19th century. America was still mostly rural at the beginning of the century. This farm chores and hunting and fishing were major activities. Unfortunately even when photography appeared at mid-century, the predomintly indoor studio photographt does not capture activities. Thus we have to turn to artitits who did genre pintings. Fishing was often dpicted because it was so popular among rural children throughout the century. A good example is George Lambdin's 'lThe Bittle Children on the Schuylkill' (1869). The public school system steadily increased in importance, so school became increasingly important. Urbanization and industrialization brought important changes. Pets were brought into the home for the first time by average families. We see more manufactured toys, both wood and cast iron. Sports grew in importance and were very popular by the end of the century. Younger boys might play games. Religion was another important acvtivity and First Communion and Confirmation were important events. The Sunday School movement began during the century. We also see early summer camps at the end of the century. We see boys playing with hoops, knives, marbles, tops, and other items. Information is limited on the early 19th century, but the invention of photograpohy begins to provide more information (1840s). At first we just have clues suggested by studio props, but gradually we begin to in to see actual images of boys playing. This is especially the case at the end of the century. We are developing pages on each decade. So far we only have a page on the 1890s.

The 20th Century

The 20th century brought more change in popular boys activities. In act there were more changes than ever before. And we know a great deal about these changes thanks to the home snapshots made possible by the Kodak Browie and similar cameras. Trends began in the 19th century, including urbanization and rising household income because of industrialization were all factors. Another factor was child labor laws and mandatory school attendance laws which removed boys from the work force and shifted them into classrooms, at first primary, but eventually seconday schools as well. With more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance. Sports came into their own. And boys had a pashion to play them. Here school was factor. We at first see many of the activities that were popular in the 19th century. Boys continued to play marbels. Board games became kinceasingly popular. Youth groups appeared early in the century and quickly became a popular activity. Toys became increasibngly sophisticated. New toys constantly appeared decade by decade. Toy trains were popular in the late-19th century, but became a major item as Amrican began to electrify. Moels were popular, at first balsa kits and then after World War II plastics. Toy guns, especially cap istils were popular as were BB guns. A range of vehichles were built for children. Most boys had trikes and bikes. Toy cars like hot wheels were a big hit.A particularly popular new item was transformers. The styles of bikes changed over time. Major changes occured late in the century asadvances made in the space race began to be commercialized. Yoys like radio controlled cars and hand-held games becam popualr, but the major new itms was computer gaming. Currently we only have a page on the 1920s.

The 21st Century

Created: 12:08 AM 7/10/2008
Last updated: 6:10 PM 8/2/2017