Figure 1.--This snapshot is unidentified, but we believe is American, probably taken in the early-12930s. The furniture looks somewhat American. The collared sweater with geometric shapes has an American feel to me. The tan long stockings fit very well with the 1930s although they were also popular in the later-1920s. The boy seems to be about 6-years old.

We do not yet have much information on American sweaters. We do not see boys wearing sweaters in the early- and mid-19th century. We first see sweaters in the late-19th centuries, but they do not seem very common. A factor here may have been that 19th century photography. And as photography was mostly formal portraits, they were not often worn to the studios, even if boys had sweaters, but they were seen as casual wear. Most boys wore suits for the portraits. We do notice early football players wearing them. We do begin to see American boys wearing sweaters in large numbers until the 20th century, especially by the 1910s and even more so after World War I in the 1920s. We note a wide variety of styles gradually developing. A factor here is that the popularity of suits, especially for school declined. The sweater became a staple for schoolwear in the 1920s. They were actually part of the increasing informality in dress. We not only notice many boys wearing sweaters in the amateur snapshots that appear in large numbers and in portraits. Parents after World war I began to see sweaters as suitable for formal portraits. We see many different kinds of sweaters in the 20th century. They were worn throughout the century. Sweaters were not quite as popular by the end of the century. Here factors like central heating and the shift of the population south (because of air conditiong) after World War II were factors here.

The 19th Century

The sweater was appasrently invented in Ireland. Some point to the Aran Islasnds off thewestern coast of Ireland. We do not notice sweaters being work by children to any extent through the 19th century. We note fashion historins describing sweaters in thelaste 1880s, but we do not see children wering them to any extent until after the turn of the century. They seem to have been more common earlier in Europe. We do not yet have much information on American sweaters. We do not see boys wearing sweaters in the early- and mid-19th century. We first see sweaters in the late-19th centuries, mostly worn by teenagers. They do not seem very common. We seem them advertized in catalogs. A factor here may have been that 19th century photography. And as photography was mostly formal portraits, they were not often worn to the studios, even if boys had sweaters, but they were seen as casual wear. Most boys wore suits for the portraits. We do notice early football players wearing them. Many early sweaters seem were very heavy, bulky affairs.

The 20th Century

We do begin to see American boys wearing sweaters in large numbers until the 20th century. The numbers in the 1900s seem limited. Interestingly we don't see boys commonly wearing them either to work or to school. We see thrm more inthe 1920s after World War I in the 1920s. They became a very common garment, both for school and fior casual wear. A wide variety of styles gradually developing. A factor here is that the popularity of suits, especially for school declined. The sweater became a staple for schoolwear in the 1920s. They were actually part of the increasing informality in dress. We see boys wearung ties with sweaters rather than suits for semi-formal events. We not only notice many boys wearing sweaters in the amateur snapshots that appear in large numbers and in portraits. Parents after World war I began to see sweaters as suitable for formal portraits. We see many different kinds of sweaters in the 20th century. Not only do we see heavy weaters, but we begin to see lighter, less bulky garments. We also see many different styles. We notice both plain sweaters and sweaters with bold patterns. They were worn throughout the century. Usage was both seasonal and regional. Sweaters were not quite as popular by the end of the century. Here factors like central heating and the shift of the population south (because of air conditiong) after World War II were factors here.

The 21st Century

Created: 8:02 PM 2/1/2011
Last updated: 4:13 PM 8/8/2018