Figure 1.--The Cub uniform was basically the same as the Scout uniform only done in blue. Here a Den of Cubs appears on radio during the 1930s. Most Cubs during the 1930s wore the knikers uniform. The radio station call letters (KSRO) tells us that the boys were from Santa Cruz California. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the Den.

Cubs Scouts were only established in 1930, more than a decade later than Cubs began in Britain. 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.

Establishment

Cubs Scouts were only established in 1930, more than a decade later than Cubs began in Britain. This was a result of a split with the BSA on the nature of the program.

The Uniform

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.

California Report

One California resident reports, "Our school had a Cub pack in the 1930's. I became a Cub Scout in 1937 when I was 9 years old. Although our Pack Leader was a man, all the Den's were headed by mothers. I went through the entire program from Wolf to Lion, then to the Boy Scouts. Our uniform was the dark blue uniform with shorts, shirt, cap, yellow kerchief and blue with yellow stripes socks. I can not remember if the fold over pocket had a yellow piping. I think it was all dark blue. On the shirt the monogram insignia "Cub Scouts of America" was in yellow. Whenever we had a local jamboree, the packs were evenly divided with wearing of knickers pants and shorts. I believe our mothers probably contributed to this decision. I know my mother was instrumental and was a Den mother. I also remember our Cub pack marched in the Armistice parade we wore our short pants uniform. About half of the packs wore knickers and half wore short pants."

Regional Trends

I think the warmer weather in California and the South meant more Cubs in those areas wore the short pants uniform. The boy described above, for example, lived in Fresno. The weather in Fresno is much warmer and that had a major impact on why his pack wore the uniform shorts then the knickers. The weather in Fresno during the Summer has probably 20 to 30 days when the temperature is over 100 degrees. During the 1930s there were only a few swamp coolers (movie theaters had these swamp coolers) in Fresno, but no air conditioners as we know today. The Cub describes above remembers in May when he was in grammar school, it became so unbearable they moved the class outdoors.