Figure 1.-- This postcard-back snapshot shows a family out for a hike in a wooded area. We see more and more of this in the 20th century as America became more and nore urbanized. Notice how they are rather formally drssed for their backwoods outing. The potcard is undated, but looks like the 1900s.

The 20th century brought more change in popular boys activities. In fact there were more changes than ever before. And we know a great deal about these changes thanks to the home snapshots made possible by the Kodak Browie and similar cameras. Trends began in the 19th century, including urbanization and rising household income because of industrialization were all factors. Although child labor was still very common in the 1900s, espcially in the South. Another factor was child labor laws and mandatory school attendance laws which removed boys from the work force and shifted them into classrooms, at first primary, but eventually seconday schools as well. With more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance, but were till common in rural areas. As America became more urbanized we begin to see families diverting themselves by taking trips to get back to nature, including trips into neautiful wildreness areas. This is not something rural people did. They were more intereted in coming to towns and cities. A part of the same movement, we see cities giving more and more attention to opening city parks. This began with Central Park in New Yoek City (1857) and the idea became increaingly popular in cities throughout America. By the turn of the 20th century, most large American cities had public parks to bring a little green into the city.

Major Activities

The 20th century brought more change in boys activities. In fact there were more changes than ever before.This included social activies that were important like school and church as well as activuties that were more recreational. School is surely the most imprtant activity for children. Religion is also important. Bot as imprtant as it once was, but imprtant none the less. With more than half of the population now living in cities, hunting and fishing began to decline in importance, but were still common in rural areas. As America became more urbanized we begin to see families diverting themselves by taking trips to get back to nature, including trips into neautiful wildreness areas. This is not something rural people did. They were more intereted in coming to towns and cities. A part of the same movement, we see cities giving more and more attention to opening city parks with green areas. At first this a manicvured gardens. But then some parks began to recreate wild areas. This began with Central Park in New Yoek City (1857) and the idea became increaingly popular in cities throughout America. By the turn of the 20th century, most large American cities had public parks to bring a little green into the city. We also see boys' actibities changing. Sports as America urbanized were becoming increasingly important, especially baseball. It became known as the 'national passtime'. Other sports like baketbasll and football were growing in popularity, but it was baseball that was the dominant sport. A recording of the poem 'Casey at the bat' was a sensation (1906). Many of the same activities that were popular in the 1890s contiunued in the i900s. All kinds of dolls and stuffed animals wereavasliable--including the classic Teddy Bear--of course named after the president atthetime--Theodire "Teddy" Roosevelt who famously saved a bearcub. Particulrly popular was shooting marbels, but with rising incomes generasted the increased production of toys. We see all kinds of toys entering. Boys were particularly fascinated by the new Electric trains. Lionel introduced the first version of what became the classic train set (1906).

Photography

The Kodak Browie wasintriduyced (1900). Similar cameras soon followed. This brought photography out of the studio and into the homes and backyards of the American people. The snapshot became an important part of American life. And as a result, we know a great deal about these changes thanks to these home snapshots made possible by this new technology.

Demographic and Economic Trends

Demographic and economic trends beganing in the 19th century continued in the 1900s. Urbanization continued to increase, riing from 40 to 45 percent of the populstion. Rising household income because of the most capitalist economy in the world was the driving force despite the dominant historical narative. This resulted in industriali and agricultural improvements (in part relasted to indudtrialization). They were factors affecting childhood activities. Child labor was still very common in the 1900s, espcially in the South, but decling because of Progressive reforms. Mandatory school attendance laws also began removing children, especially boys, from the work force and shifted them into classrooms. At first this mostly meant primary school, but eventually seconday schools were also affected.

Clothing

What is fascinating in all the snapshots we see of children's activities is the lack of casual clothing. We see girls wearing dresses and the boys suits. Nothing could be more difficult from modern times. Now this may have been understandable if all we had to go on was studio photography, but this was no longer the case. Rather we have the Kodak Brownie and similar camneras which have left us an immense photographic record of life outside the studio which had confined 19th century photography. We see boys mostly wearing suits, just as they did for formal studuo portraits. And we see boys wearing suitsfor play and participation in many games. We see many boys taking off their jackets during games. The major concession to casual wear was in fact younger boys commonly wore just their blouses and not their suit jackets during the summer. In addition, boys commonly went barefoot during the summer and this included when dressing up. This presumably was the case duruing the 19th century, but does not show up in studio portraits. For some reason it doesin the 1900s. It was virtually the only time boys, even younger boys, did not wear long stockings. In Europe, younger boys commonly wore socks, especially when the occsssion was not formal. This was not the case in America. We do not yet see casual jackets. Nor nor or sweaters yet major clothing item. One reason tunic suits were popular was that they were essential acasual garment compared to the suits young boys wore at the time. And in keeping with the conventions of the day, tunic suits could be embellished for a more formal look. More formal garments like Fauntleroy suits and kilt suits went out of style.

School

School was of course a major activity for children. Rising prtosperity and the related compulsory school attendance and child labor laws mean tht more children were attending sdchools for longer periods. And dress was much more formal than for modern schools. Boys wore suits and girls dresses. America was becomiong more urbanized, but more than half the population still lived in rural areas andasttended rural schools. Clothing as these schools could be more casual than in city schools. By the end of the decade we seeboys wearing overalls go school. .

Created: 1:51 PM 10/18/2015
Last updated: 9:54 PM 2/5/2019