Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows an unidentified boy wearing a tartan outfit. The skirted garment is pleated, but looks more like a standard skirt than a kilt. Notice the Glengary cap and matching sash. The studio was Conrad Rippel in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. We are not sure how to date it, but it was probably taken in the 1890s. Given the age of the boy, the outfit was presumably worn as an ethnic costume, although he does not have a Scottish jacket or sporan. Note the long stockings rather than knee socks usually wortn with Highland kilts. He looks to be about 10 years old.

There were two styles of Highland kilts, informal and formal kilt styles. Actual Scottish kilts were not extensively worn in America. Although the kilt suit offshoot was rather common. Some Scottish immigrants in the 18th century may have worn kilts, at least upon their arrival. I have, however, little information on this. It is likely that most immigrants quickly conformed to more accepted American clothing. HBC believes, however, that some American boys wore the Higland kilt as a formal dress outfit. In Scotland the Highland kilt was also worn informally. This was not the case in America. Most American boys would have been reluctant to wear kilts to school or informally like Scottish boys. Some wealthy American parents, however, did adopt the Higland kilt as a dress oufit in the late 19th century and in the early 20th century until World War I. HBC is not sure just who was wearing these outfits. Almost sure they were boys from wealthy families. Also it was boys of Scottish ancestry that would be most likely to wear them. HBC believes, however, that some mothers had their boys wear a Higland kilts because they liked the style, not because there were Scottish ancestors. See the example of Hiram Van Vliet Braman, hardly a Scottish name. HBC is unsure what the boys involved thought about the idea. It is likely that it was not very popular, but HBC can not yet confirm this. After the War the kilt became much less common.

Created: 4:47 AM 10/31/2010
Last updated: 5:42 PM 10/31/2010