Figure 1.--This portrait shows an altar boy wearing an elegant surplice over his cassick. He is holding a Bible or hymnal. The portrait was taken by the A. Keinemnn (note the German name) in Chicaho, Illinois. The portrait is not dated, but was probably taken in the 1890s.

Serving as an altar boy was an important experience in the life of many Catholic boys. This is primarily a Catholic experience, although some Protestant churches such as the Anglicans (Episcopalians) also have altar noys. America was settled as a Protestant country. There were some Catholics in Maryland, but America in the early 19th century was a predominantly Protestant country. Many disident Protestant groups came to America, but relatively few Catholics. It was not until the Irish Potato Famine (1840s) that large number of Catlholics came to America. The numbers increased in the late 19th century with the arrival of Italians and eastern Europeans such as the Poles. Many of these immigrants settled in the rising American industyrial cities. We do not have any images of American altar boys from the mid-19th century. We do have some from the late 19th and turn of the 20th century. There seems to have been awide range of vestment styles worn by the boys. Some boys wear very elegant surplices while others wear very simple garments. We do not have much information on actual altar boy experiences.

American Catholics

Serving as an altar boy was an important experience in the life of many Catholic boys. This is primarily a Catholic experience, although some Protestant churches such as the Anglicans (Episcopalians) also have altar noys. America was settled as a Protestant country. There were some Catholics in Maryland, but America in the early 19th century was a predominantly Protestant countrfy. Many disident Protestant groups came to America, but relatively few Catholics. (Unlike the French, Portugese, and Spanish, the British did not attempt to enforece religious orthodoxy in their colonies.) It was not until the Irish Potato Famine (1840s) that large number of Catlholics came to America. The Mexican-American War (1845-46) brought large numbers of Catholic in what is now the southwest into the United States. The numbers of Catholics increased significantly in the late-19th century with the arrival of Italians and eastern Europeans such as the Poles. Many of these immigrants settled in the rising American industrial cities of the northeast. There were relatively few Catholics in the northwest and southeast of the United States. The south continued to be predominately Protestant into the 20th century. There were some Catholics in Maryland and Louisiana. Maryland Catholics descended from the original settlers. Louisana Catholics are commonly referred to as Cajuns. They are descendents of the Acadians (French settlers of eastern Canada) who were expelled by the British (1750s).

Chronology

America was founded as a largely protestant nation. Some Catholics settled in Maryland, but the other colonies were largely Protestant. There were so many Protestant denominations, however, that the princiole of religious freedom developed in the coloniesd and was inshrined in the Bill of Rights after the Federal Constitutioin was ratified (1789). The first Catholics to reach America were the Irish fleeiung the Potato Famine. The Irish wre desperately poor and the Catholic Church that came with them was viewed with suspion by many Protestants. This was an artifact of the European religious wars. We do not have any images of American altar boys from the mid-19th century. Many more Catholics arrived in the late-19th century when European immigration became a major phenomenon. Many came from largely-Catholic southern Europe. Much has been written about the prejudice they encountered. This was indeed a proiblem, but the fact that Catholic immigrants continued to come to America reflects not only the economic opportunity they found, but also the fact that the were limits on the prejudice they encountered. The Church was an important institutioin in assisting immigrant communities. The expanded immigration turned Catholics from a small, largely Catholic minority to a major American religious community. Castholics primarily setteled in the cities and becamne a major part of America's expanding industriak\l work force. Large numbers of boys served as altar boys. We do have some from the late-19th and turn-of-the 20th century. Early altar boy garments seem somewhat fancier thabn the olnes wee see after world war I. Congress placed significant limitatiins on immigration (1920s). The story of Catholicism in America is one of gradual assimilation and acceptance. After Wirld war II, American Catholics had joined the American mainstream.

Selection

We are not sure how altar boys were selected. We suspect that they were often chosen from better-off middle-class families rather than poorer workikng-clss families, but we are not sure about this. Hopeful;ly readeers will be able to tell us more.

Styles

There seems to have been a wide range of vestment styles worn by the boys. Some boys wear very elegant surplices while others wear very simple garments. We assume that the primary factor here was the affluence of the particular church. Cathloics as new immigrants at first generally were laborers earning little money. Presumably some churches could not afford expensive vestments. While the basic outfit was a white surplice worn over a cassick, the style nd detailing of the surplice could vary significantly. The think the cassocks were commonly red, but we have few details at ths time. Some European boys wire red caps, but we have not noted this in America.

Experiences

We do not have much information on actual altar boy experiences. An American reader has described his experiences as an altar boy.

Advertising

We note a candle compamy in 1915 that put altar boys on their promotional calandars.

Created: 12:05 AM 1/26/2006
Last updated: 8:37 PM 9/4/2010