Figure 1.--Here we see three American boys playing sometime in the 1900s. At the time boys wore a variety of caps. The peaked cap did not at the time have the social class connotations. Notice the pooch. You can bet this lot had some adventures together.

We do not yet have a complere chronology of the peaked cap in America. We first note peaked dress caps in America during the late-19th century. We notice them being worn by the 1880s, but they were not common. We see a few boys wearing them with fancy Fauntleroy outfits. we see a few more in the 1890s. They do not seem enormously popular in the 19th century, but we do notice them. Hats were more common headwear for boys during most of the 19th century. It is difficult to assess the usage of these caps because most of the 19th century imagery is studio photograpy. Only with the 20th century do we get large numbers of family snap shots and other photography showing children in real life circumstances. At the turn-of-the 20th century, the Kodak Brownie makes the family snapshot a staple. We see that the peaked cap was one of several types of caps that boys worn at the time. All had peaks, but the crowns varied. There were a range of different styles including these peaked caps, flat caps, and various other cap stypes. We also notice flat caps and Oliver Twist caps. These caps were worn by a wide range of boys with little or no class connotations. Flat caps in the early-20th century were just beginning to become standard. Oliver Twist caps disappeared in the 1910s. Peaked caps persisted, but with a shift in image. The peaked cap became a kind of dress cap for pre-teen boys from affluent families. By the 1920s we see younger boys wearing peaked caps with suits with suits, usually in black or grey. The peaked cap maintained this image into the 1960s. By the 1970s it became primarily a cap worn by todlers or slightly older pre-school boys with Eton suits for formal events like weddings.

The 19th Centuty

We do not yet have a complere chronology of the peaked cap in America. We see these caps in Britain at mid-century, but not in America. We first note peaked dress caps in America during the late-19th century. We notice them being worn by the 1880s, but they were not common. We see a few boys wearing them with fancy Fauntleroy outfits. we see a few more in the 1890s. Most of the 19th century images we have foind date to the 1890s. They do not seem enormously popular in the 19th century, but we do notice them. Hats were more common headwear for boys during most of the 19th century. It is difficult to assess the usage of these caps because most of the 19th century imagery is studio photograpy. And while studio photography is not a good indicator od prevalence, we have a large enough archiv to say with some validity that the peaked cap was not common headwear when drwsung up, bit that his was chnging in the 1890s.

The 20th Century

We see far more American boys wearing peaked caps during the 20th century, especially during the early 20th century. They were not as popular as in Britain, but we see many examples. The cap did not have a school association as in Britain, although it was worn at quite a number of American private schools--albeit without all the varied colors. With the 20th century do we get large numbers of family snapshots and other photography showing children in real life circumstances. At the turn-of-the 20th century, the Kodak Brownie makes the family snapshot a staple. We see that the peaked cap was one of several types of caps that boys worn at the time. All had peaks, but the crowns varied. There were a range of different styles including these peaked caps, flat caps, and various other cap stypes. We also notice flat caps and Oliver Twist caps. These caps were worn by a wide range of boys with little or no class connotations. Flat caps in the early-20th century were just beginning to become standard. Oliver Twist caps disappeared in the 1910s. Peaked caps persisted, but with a shift in the image. Flat caps becme the standard cap for american boys during two decades (1910s-20s). The peaked cap became a kind of dress cap for pre-teen boys from affluent families. By the 1920s we see younger boys wearing peaked caps with suits, both Eton suis and lapel jackets. They were usually done in black or grey. The peaked cap maintained this image into the 1960s. By the 1970s it became primarily a cap worn by todlers or slightly older pre-school boys with Eton suits for formal events like weddings and by the end of the century were rarely seen.

Created: 10:57 PM 3/17/2008
Last updated: 4:38 AM 3/15/2015