Figure 1.--This unidentified father and son tintype portrait shows the two drssed very similarly. The major difference is the headwear. The boy who looks to be about 10-years old wears a rounded-crown hat. His father seems to be wearing a homberg. They look to be farmners who have come to town. The portrait is undated and we are not sure how to date it. We might guess the 1890s. but we are not at all sure.

There were significant age conventions associated with the various types of boys headwear. For the most part different types and styles of headwear which before the 1960s was much more common than is the case today. The age conventions not only varied by type of caps and hats, but over time as well. the choice of a caps opposed to a hat seems less an age matter than the popularity of the headwear at the time. Another factor was social class. There appear to have been ubstantial differences among pre-school boys, primary school boys, and teenagers. Teenager is a relativrely modern term, not one used in the 19th century. The choice of headwear varied from family to family, there is thus some overlap in the age conventions. We do not see much written material as to the age vonventions, but they are observable in the photographic record. The conventions and the headwear styles have changed over time, including the modern tendency not to commonly wear headwear. Until the 1960s, headwear was very common for both boys and men. We see some boys wearing adult styles, but it was not very common, except perhaps the 1950s. Boys and adult men wore the same headwear in the 18th century. As far as we can tell, the headwear worn in the 18th century was the same for men and boys. The tri-corner hat was the standard. This mirrored other garments because until the appearance of the skeleton suit late in the late-18th century, there were no dedicated boys' styles. This beagn to change in the early-19th century as decicated clothing styles appeared for children, especially boys. We see boys in the early-19th century wearing militry styled caps, sometime called Oliver Twist caps. We also see many boys wearing rounded-crown hats for much of the 19th century. This was a style much less common for adults, although we do see clerics wearing this style. A variety of cap and hat style appered in the late-19th centyry for boys. Both sailor hats ad caps were popular styles. Curiously see sometimes see boys wearing adult style such as bowler hats. This sometime was seen in wealthy families. This change general pattern continued in the 20th century. we see a variety of caps in the 1900s including peaked caps and sailor styles, but by the 1910s it was the flat cap that predominated, The flat cap was popular in America. It was a style also worn by men, but not as commonly and had social-class connotations that were not the case for boys. Major adult style were bowler, hombergs, and fedora. We see some boys wearing these hats, but not nearly as commonly as with adults.

Age 6 Years

Six years of age was when children began school. It is an age when some boys began to wear older boy clothes, but most were still wearin the younger styles. We see many boys wearing a range of headwear in the 19th century. Roundedcrown hats were the most common, but we see some military-styled peaked caps at mid-century. We also see tams and wide-brimmed sailor hats. The late-19th century is notable for the diversity of boy's headwear. Some are familiar styles. Others look strange with the outfits worn. By the end of the century we mostly see caps, quite a wide variety, including peaked caps, woodmen styles, sailor caps, and others. After the turn-of-the 20th century we see mostly sailor caps, peaked caps and flat caps. The flat capsere almost universal, but by the late-30s the peaked cap was the mos common hedwear for younger boys, including 6-year olds. By the 960s we see headwar gradually going out of syle for all boys, including 6-year olds. The major exception was cold-wear an styles and rainwear. Girls migh use umnbrellas, but boysere more inclined to use than a swords in play fighting. We do see casual styles like base-ball caos becoming popular.

Age 8 Years

Eight year old boys continued the basic pattern of school age boys. They wore tri-corner hats like their fathers in the 18th century. There may have been other headwear, especially on the frontier, but there were no deducated boys styles. Our information on the early-19th century is very limited. We note Oliver Twist caps which was a Napoleonic War military style, but continued popular into the 1850s presumably because the U.S. Ary adopted it. We notice Scottish style caps after mid-century, but these were motly worn by boys from affluent families and were not very common. Much more common in the 19th century were rounded crown hats. The boiy here is wearing one (figure 1). We note boys wearing kepis during the Civil War year and the 1870s. And as sailor suits became popular we begin to see boys wearing sailor headwear. At age 8 years, the caps seem more common than the hats, but we see some 8-year old wearing sailor hats, although they were more common for younger boys. At the end of the century we see 8 year olds wearing a variety of caps. This continued after the turn-of the 20th century. Flat caps emerged as the standard cap style (1910s). The flat cap declined in popularity (1930s), but not cap style was nearly as popular. Some boys from afluent families wore peaked caps. After World War II, baseball caps became increasing popular. Some older boys wore adult-styled hats when dressing up, but this was not common with 8-year old. Headwear in general declined in popularity.

Age 10 Years

Ten year old boys continued the basic pattern of school age boys. They wore tri-corner hats like their fathers in the 18th century. There may have been other headwear, especially on the frontier, but there were no deducated boys styles. Our infomation on the early-20th century is very limited. We note Oliver Twist caps which was a Napoleonic War military style. We notice Scottish style caps after mid-century, but these were motly worn by boys from affluent families and were not very common. Much more common in the 19th century were rounded crown hats. The boiy here is wearing one (figure 1). We note boys wearing kepis during the Civil War year and the 1870s. And as sailor suits became popular we begin to see boys wearing sailor headwear. At age 10 years, the caps seem more common than the hats. At the end of the century we see 10 year olds wearing a variety of caps. This continued after the turn-of the 20th century. Flat caps emerged as the standard cap style (1910s). The flat cap declined in popularity (1930s), but not cap style was nearly as popular. Some boys from afluent familie wore peaked caps. After World War II, baseball caps became invreasing popular. Some boys wore adult-styled hats when dressing up, but headwear in general declined in popularity.

Age 11 Years

Created: 3:07 AM 2/13/2012
Last updated: 12:29 AM 3/1/2014