Figure 1.--These Children photographed in New Orleans during 1901 show many of the popular cap styles of the time in America.

American boys in the 18th century wore three-corner hats just like their dads. Boys on the frontier may have worn coon-skin caps like Davy Crockett, but this was not a specialized boy's style. The first specialized children's hat was probably the wide-brimmed sailor hat made popular in England and worn by American boys through the early 20th century. Tams were popular for a while, but became seen as more of a girl's garments as did berets which for a while were worn by younger boys. The flat cap which appeard at the turn of the century became a universally popular style for boys after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s. There were specialized winter styles with ear flaps and fur. Stocking caps became popular winter caps. Affluent boys might wear English-styled peaked caps with short pants suits. A few younger boys wore berets. Cowboy hats were popular wth boys, but more as a novely or playy cap. Coon-skin caps made a brief appearane in the 1950s. The principal development after World War II (1939-45) was the declining popularity of caps and hats of all kinds. American boys who once never left home without a cap, now commonly did so. The emergence of the baseball cap, complete with the athletic team logo of choice, in the 1970s as the head covering of choice for the American boy was a fashion statement which has now spread around the world.

Chronology

American boys in the 18th century wore three-corner hats just like their dads. Boys on the frontier may have worn coon-skin caps like Davy Crockett, but this was not a specialized boy's style. The first specialized children's hat was probably the wide-brimmed sailor hat made popular in England and worn by American boys through the early 20th century. We note a number of fashionable headwear styles in the 19th century. A good example are the Glengary and sailot caps shown ina 1878 fashion magazine. Tams were popular for a while, but became seen as more of a girl's garments as did berets which for a while were worn by younger boys. The flat cap which appeard at the turn of the century became a universally popular style for boys after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s. There were specialized winter styles with ear flaps and fur. Stocking caps became popular winter caps. The principal development after World War II (1939-45) was the declining popularity of caps and hats of all kinds. American boys who once never left home without a cap, now commonly did so. The emergence of the baseball cap, complete with the athletic team logo of choice, in the 1970s as the head covering of choice for the American boy was a fashion statement which has now spread around the world.

Social Class

Boys from affluent families often wore destinctive hat or cap styles. There were anumber of fashionable styles in the 19th century, especially during the second half of the century. Affluent boys in the first half of the 20th century boys might wear English-styled peaked caps with short pants suits. A few younger boys wore berets. These social class diiferences gradually disappeared in the second half of the century.

Specialized Styles

We note some styles that seem uniquely American Cowboy hats were popular wth boys, but more as a novely or playy cap. Coon-skin caps made a brief appearane in the 1950s. Of course the American cap that has had the greates impact around the world is the baseball cap.

Specific Styles

We note American boys wearing many different styles of caps and hats. Caps were more common for boys than hats, but we see boys wearing both. The basic difference is the bbrim. A hat has a full brim while a cap has only a partial brim. There were also a range of other headwear such as berets, hetmets, and knit caps. These items are commonly referred to as caps as well even though they did not have brims. We do not have much information on 18th century styles, but we have a good bit of information about 19th and 20th century styles. We notice boys wearing sailor hats, but no other hat style was especially common for boys, although seceral were worn. Hats seem some what more common for upper clas families, but this destinction does not seem as prominant as is the case for adults. we have not noted any new styles in the 21st century. Some cap styles like sailor caps, flat caps, anf baseball caps were particularly common for boys, but there are many other styles worn as well.

Created: Dwcember 15, 2003
Last updated: 6:12 PM 1/20/2007