Figure 1.--We are not positive, but this looks to be a band uniform even though the boy does not have an instrument and looks a little young to play a band instrument. Note the Civil War-style cap. The image is undated, but probably dates to about 1890. The boy's name was Raymond F. Strominger and he was from New Cumberland County, Pennsyslvania.

American bands usually had uniforms. These have varied widely over time. Some of these bands had elaborate uniforms. American marching band uniforms had generally military styles. This was the case for both civic and school bands. These appaer to have been all-male bands. We still have very limited informnation on these bands. Here towns varied considerably as to how they uniformed their municipal bands. The size and affluece of the town of course were critical elements. Most American high schools have marching bands and their uniforms vary widely, although military styles in the John Philip Souza tradition have perhaps been the most common. This often involved elaborate decorative braid on the jacket. Caps were much more varied. We have some early 20th century images, but we are not always sure if these are civic or school bands, or in some cases if they are band uniforms at all. This is especially the case, of course, if a boy is not holding his musical instrument. We have few images of early high school bands. Many high schools by the 1930s, however, had organized large, elaborately uniformed matching bands. There were also elementary (primary) schools with marching bnds, but they were much less common than for highschools.

Prevalence

American bands usually had uniforms.

Types

uniforms have varied widely. Some of these bands had elaborate uniforms. American marching band uniforms had generally military styles. This was the case for both civic and school bands.

Gender

These appaer to have been all-male bands.

Types of Bands

We still have very limited informnation on these bands. Here towns varied considerably as to how they uniformed their municipal bands. The size and affluece of the town of course were critical elements. Most American high schools have marching bands and their uniforms vary widely, although military styles in the John Philip Souza tradition have perhaps been the most common.

Garments

This often involved elaborate decorative braid on the jacket. Caps were much more varied.

Chronology

We have some early 20th century images, but we are not always sure if these are civic or school bands, or in some cases if they are band uniforms at all. This is especially the case, of course, if a boy is not holding his musical instrument. We have few images of early high school bands. Many high schools by the 1930s, however, had organized large, elaborately uniformed matching bands. We notice some plainer school band uniforms. An example is Arthur Austin Potts in 1930. There were also elementary (primary) schools with marching bnds, but they were much less common than for highschools. An example is the Haddam Elementary School in the 1940s. Here we see both boys and girls involved.

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Created: December 11, 2002
Last updated: 11:56 PM 5/17/2005