Figure 1.-- A HBC reader describes "The Children's Hour with Uncle Arthur" storybook published in the 1940s. It used primarily photographs for illustrations. Usually the stories highlight a moral principle or the benefits of good behavior, manners, obeying your parents, the law, working hard at school and such like as apposed to being naughty, getting up to mischief or not respecting your elders. Also the stories are coupled to a text from the "Bible" to highlight the message of the story. This is book 4 of the series. Image courtesy of the MA collection.

A HBC reader remembers The Children's Hour with Uncle Arthur. They were quite popular when I was growing up in the 1940s. The pictures and illustrations were quite inspirational. I discovered some recently in a charity shop and they were wonderful to page through again - how times have changed. The books I have are laden with wonderful black and white photographs and all have seem to have a distinctive quality about them. There are also colour plate illustrations which are mainly in a biblical theme. Though I remember the books from the 60s, the illustrations are decidedly from the late 40s. It's interesting to note when looking thorough the photographs, the boys usually wear the characteristic 40s t-shirt which have the distinctive horizontal stripes. The four books I have (Books 1, 3, 4 and 5) are published between 1945 and 1949 and are written by Arthur S. Maxwell. The books have stories of contemporary themes which feature a Christian theme of sound values, honesty and good conduct. Usually the stories highlight a moral principle or the benefits of good behavior, manners, obeying your parents, the law, working hard at school and such like as apposed to being naughty, getting up to mischief or not respecting your elders. Also the stories are coupled to a text from the Bible to highlight the message of the story.

Personal Comments

A HBC reader remembers The Children's Hour with Uncle Arthur. They were quite popular when I was growing up in the 1940s. The pictures and illustrations were quite inspirational. I discovered some recently in a charity shop and they were wonderful to page through again - how times have changed.

Illustrations

The books I have are laden with wonderful black and white photographs and all have seem to have a distinctive quality about them. The book is full of wonderful period photographs. They seem to accurately portray children's clothes in the 1940s. There are also colour plate illustrations which are mainly in a Biblical theme.

Chronology

The books were published in the 1940s. Many of the phoographs used have the look of the early 1940s. We know of five books. They were published between 1945 and 1949.

Author

The books were written by Arthur S. Maxwell. Of course he is the Uncle Arthur referred to in the book title.

Clothing

It's interesting to note when looking thorough the photographs, the boys usually wear the characteristic 40s t-shirt which have the distinctive horizontal stripes. It's also noted in the photographs that even when the boys are wearing shorts, they always wear shoes (or the typical American 'sneakers') and (striped) ankle socks. A South African reader writes, "This is an interesting observation as in this country it is quite the norm for younger boys to be barefooted during the summer months. Some primary schools here (more so in the rural areas) also allow the children to go to school barefoot.

Themes

The books have stories of contemporary themes which feature a Christian theme of sound values, honesty and good conduct. Usually the stories highlight a moral principle or the benefits of good behavior, manners, obeying your parents, the law, working hard at school and such like as apposed to being naughty, getting up to mischief or not respecting your elders. Also the stories are coupled to a text from the bible to highlight the message of the story.

Figure 2.--One day he decides that he will hang on at the back of moving truck without the driver seeing him. Unfortunately, the truck travels very fast and Dave loses his grip and falls off. It's a bad fall and lands up in hospital with a broken leg. Note the knickers and patterened kneesocks.

Stories

Here are some representative stories from the book.

Once to often

Another photograph illustrates 'Once to Often'. Dave is an adventurous boy who likes to do dangerous stunts. He wears knickers which were still widely worn in the eraly 1940s (figure 2). He likes climbing high trees and riding his bicycle without holding the handle bars. Despite his mother's dire warnings of how his stunts can hurt him badly, he does not listen. One day he decides that he will hang on at the back of moving truck without the driver seeing him. Unfortunately, the truck travels very fast and Dave loses his grip and falls off. It's a bad fall and lands up in hospital with a broken leg.

Keep off the car

One photograph from the 'Uncle Arthur is from a story titled 'Keep Off The Car'. The story illustrates in what trouble the young Calvin could have got into by being naughty and riding on dads car rear bumper. Dad does not see him and when he drives of, Calvin nearly falls off and could have injured himself badly. Note the boys 40s haircut, baggy shrt pants, leather shoes and ankle socks. The car looks tobe from a 1940 pre-World War II model.

The face in the pear tree

One of the many colour illustrations found in the books, one by Vernon Nye, illustrates this story. It's from a story titled 'The Face in the Pear Tree'. It tells about a young Thomas Gainsborough, who being a skilled and aspiring painter, one days paints a face of a man that's hiding in his fathers pear tree plantation. The man is a thief and due to Gainsborough fine skill of depicting his face accurately, is positively identified and convicted. Later Thomas Gainsborough becomes famous for painting 'The Blue Boy'

Paying the price

The picture with the boy at the piano practicing his scales is from a charming story titled 'Paying the Price'. Tom wants to play the piano for the next school concert. but as the photograph shows; Tom has his baseball mit with him and his thoughts are with his friends playing ball. This is difficult for him as he wants to play baseball and not go thorough the long hard hours of practicing playing the piano. Tom's mother inspires him the values of working and practicing hard and the rewards they will bring. Tom takes her advice and the school concert is a success, much to the delight of his mother.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main national children's book page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: March 30, 2003
Last updated: March 30, 2003