Figure 1.--English boys wore many types of headwear during the 19th century. This varied chronologically and from school to school. This CDV shows an older student at a public (private boarding) school, we think in the 1860s. Mortor boards were commonly wirn at many public schools during the kate-19th century and we see some even in the early 20th century. The studio was Alder in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. We believe the school was Cheltenham College founded (1841). It was notable as the first of all the major public schools opened during the Victorian period. Many new schoolsere founded to meet the needs of the expanding Empire.

Our information on 19th century school headwear, especially the early-19th century, is still very limited. We note European and American boys in the early 19th century wearing a military peaked cap, often with a tassle. This was based on military caps worn during the Napoleonic Wars. We think these caps were also worn in Britain and Europe. We know much more after the invention of photography at mid-century vastly increased the number of available images. We have seen boys at English private schools (preparatory and public) wearing mortor boards which was a style first adopted at medival universities. Some schools had other destinctive styles based on historic traditions. We also note the appearance of the English school cap and the boater. We also notice tams. German schools did not have school uniforms, but secondary schools did have uniform caps--a military-styled peaked cap. This style was worn in the mid-19th century. Younger boys also began wearing sailor styles. We note military styles in several European countries, including France and Russia. Few American schools had uniforms. We see boys wearing wearing a variety of caps and hats. Rounded-crown hats seem particularly popilar at mid-century and were commonly worn into the 1890s, esoecially in frural areas. Japan in the late-19th century adopted Prussian-style cadet caps for their new school system.

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Created: 3:26 AM 8/9/2011
Last updated: 3:26 AM 8/9/2011