Figure 1.--This undated photograph (probably about 1900) taken in a Washington, DC beer hall shows a father and his two sons. Both appear to be wearing white smocks, although the phtograph is no as clear as would be desirable. Click on the image for a wider scale image.

HBC believes that up until World War I that smocks were still worn by some boys from wealthy or affluent families, much as was the case in the late 19th Century. I'm not sure if it was more or less common than in the late 19th century. I think it might have been less common, but this can not yet be substantiated. This is another of the many topics that require further investigation. We have noted a few images of boys from modest circumstances wearing smocks.

Styles

HBC has few details on the styles of smocks worn by American boys in the early 20th century. HBC notes that the admitedly limited images show that white smocks were particularly popular. Some appear to have had collars while others has simple rounded openings. They all appear to have been back buttoning.

Social Class

HBC believes that smocks for boys continued to be worn primarily by boys in affluent families that were being cared for in nurseries or at least at home. Boys would not have gone out to play in a smock, except in gardens and other grounds of a family estate. Boys would not have worr smocks to school.

Image Assessment

HBC is unsure how to evaluate the photograph on this page. Would a father have taken his two sons dressed in white smocks to a beer hall. It does not look like a saloon, perhaps family events were held there. Or perhaps he was the owner. The boy on the left definitely appears to be wearing a smock. The outfit of the boy on the right is less clear, but except for the belt or ribbon looks very similar to that of his younger brother. The younger boy may also have a belt, but the pose may obsure it.

Figure 2.--This photograph is William M. Moore. He was 4 years old. He is wearing a back buttoning smock for play.

Utility

The smock appears to have been a utilitarian garment work mostlty for play. This is certainly suggested by the 1917 image here of William More. HBC is not sure how to interpret figure 1.

Age

Smocks were generally worn by younger boiys. William in figure 2 was 4 years old. One of the boys in figure 1 looks to be 9 or 10 years old. HBC belives, howeve, that the were mostly by yonger boys.

Work

HBC has primarily thought as smocks a gaement worn by affluent or rich boys that were often cared for in protected circumstances and who were not allowed to freely associate with other boys. We have, however, noted a few photographs of American boys from more modest circimstances wearing smocks. They appear to have been a destinct minority, but HBC does not yet have contemprary written sources addressing this topic. Various possibilities exist, perhaps these boys were recent European immigrants.

Photography

One problem may be that children were probably not as commonly photogrpahed in smocks, but with the spread of amateur photographs and the greater number of candid snap shots, one would expect that more photogrphs would have been taken. This requires, however, further investigation.

Advertisements

Boys were occasionally pictured wearing smocks in the early 20th century. HBC is not sure how common smocks were in America. We think not very common, but they clearly were worn. The advertising suggests that they were most common in relativeky affluent families. The one af available at this time was a 1918 Lux soap ad.

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Created: May 6,2000
Last updated: May 4, 2001