Figure 1.--Here we see acabinet card with shows an English family on a outing, probably in some kind of park. The children look to be about 8-11 years old. The boys wears a sailor suit with a boater that has a wide hat band. The photograph was probably taken no earlier than the mid-1890s. Earlier portaits were almost entirely studio portraits.

Age conventions for boaters varied over time. At first they were worn by adult boaters, sailors, and older school boys (mid-19th century). As the 19h century progressed, we see younger primary school-age boys wearing them seasonally with a variety of outfits, but not normally to school. They seem specially popular at the turn-of-the century. The boys here are a good example (figure 1). The children look to be about 3-9 years old. The boys would have been about 6-9 years old. A boater of course is unpractical for school age boys. It is impractical because it is so frangible. So we mostly see boaters when the boys are dressed up and with their parents. This did not change until well after the turn-of-the 20th century when we only continue to see them by older boys at the elite public schools. After World War I in he 1920s, these are the only boys we see wearing them. The earliest boater we have found so far was was worn by Earnst Frederick who looks to be about 8 years old and probably came from an affluent family in 1861. His boater has a plain dark hat band.

Created: 10:51 AM 12/15/2024
Last updated: 10:51 AM 12/15/2024