Figure 1.--Most American Cubs during the 1930s wore knickers. We also wee a few boys wearing short pants as well. We think the snapshot here was taken n the 1930s, probably the late 30s. The Cub here wears a regulation short-sleve Cub shirt and belt. I think the shorts are regulation, but am not positive. He does not, however wear the regulation knee socks. By the late 30s, knee socks were becoming increasingly unpopular with boys. This boy was a brand new Cub, note there are no badges on his shirt. That means he was probably 8 years old and in 3rd grade.

The uniform of the new American Cubs Scouts was blue and gold. The BSA decided to make the style of the Cub uniform similar to the Scout uniform, but to differentiate by color. This was a different approach than in Bitain where Cubbing and Scouting originated. The British Scout Association had made the two uniforms entirely different. This was done so the Scout uniform would not look childish, something the older boys would not like. The BSA in America decided to essentially have the same style of uniform, but to achieve the deifferentiation through color. While the American uniform was quite different from the British Cubs, they did wear the same peaked cap (rather like a British school cap) introduced for British Cubs, but in the blue and gold American colors. Cubs did not participate in camping like the Scouts and were thus even more likely to wear the knickers uniform. Again there were exceptions and some Cubs did wear short pants. I think this was a relatively small number, although they were more common in some areas like California. Almost all the photographs we have found from the 1930s show American cubs wearing knickers like the Scouts.

Destinctiveness

The uniform of the new American Cubs Scouts was blue and gold. The BSA decided to make the style of the Cub uniform similar to the Scout uniform, but to differentiate by color. This was a different approach than in Bitain where Cubbing and Scouting originated. The British Scout Association had made the two uniforms entirely different. This was done so the Scout uniform would not look childish, something the older boys would not like. The BSA in America decided to essentially have the same style of uniform, but to achieve the deifferentiation through color. There was one other other differences with the Scout uniform--the cap. While the American uniform was quite different from the British Cubs, they did wear the same peaked cap (rather like a British school cap) introduced for British Cubs, but in the blue and gold American colors.

Seasonality

There was a summer uniform option. This include a short sleeve shirt and short pants rather than knickers. The same blue anf gold knee socks were wirn with both uniforms.

Pants

Cubs did not participate in camping like the Scouts and were thus even more likely to wear the knickers uniform. Again there were exceptions and some Cubs did wear short pants. I think this was a relatively small number, although they were more common in some areas like California. Almost all the photographs we have found from the 1930s show American cubs wearing knickers like the Scouts. Even so we notice BSA publications for Cubs which commonly depict the short pants summer uniform and the boys always wearing knee socks.