Figure 1.--This American boy had his portrait taken in Buffalo, New York, probably during the 1880s. We are not sure just how to interpret this portrait. I thought at first he was in a military school. The badge he is wearing, however, makes the outfit look more like a costume. But the jacket looks too substantial for a costume. A reader speculates a lodge uniform. Another possibility is a delivery boy.

We notice portraits of many American boys wearing all kinds of uniforms. There were various types of juvenile uniforms. The most common uniform in the years before school uniforms became common was the Boy Scout and other youth group uniforms. Scouting was very popular in America until late in the 20th century after the Vietnam War. We also note boys wearing costume uniforms of various kinds. They were popular in the fist half of the 20th century. These uniforms were commonly carried in the major mail order catalogs. They were play uniforms. Uniforms were not common in American schools, except at military schools. For some reason a common type of American private school. Uniforms ee adopted at parochial schools after World War II. and now are becoming increasingly common, especially at primary (elementary) schools and junior highschools.

Bell Hops

Costumes

We also note boys wearing costume uniforms of various kinds. They were play iniforms, not Halloween cosumes. These uniforms were commonly carried in the major mail order catalogs.

Lodges

A number of lodges began to organize in America in the 19th century. This followed the Masons which organized in the 18th century. Some of these groups included the Elks, Moose, and Shriners. These were men's fraternal orders. Many had, however, auxileries for both wives and boys, I'm less sure about girls. We have seen boys wearing unidentified uniforms. We think that some of them may be wearing lodge uniforms, aslthough we are not at all sure. Perhaps HBC readers will have some insights here.

Military Uniforms

We do not yet have much information on the use of boys in ancient amd medieval militaries. We do have some information on more modern times, especially beginning with the advent of photography. . Boys were extensively use by both the Union and Confederacy as drummer boys during the Civil War (1861-65). Boys were also used by the navy in the Civil war as ships' boys and powder monkeys. I do not recall seeing drummer boys in the Spanish American War (1898-99), although I am unsure about just what the regulations were. Nor are we familiar with U.S. naval regulations concerning the age of service. This practice declines in Europe and North Ameruca in more modern times.

Schools

American school children, with some exceptions, have not worn school uniforms. Uniforms were not common in American schools, except at military schools. For some reason, military schools were a common type of American private school. America's parochial school children have worn uniforms--although I'm not sure when uniforms were introduced. Private school children--especially America's elite private schools modeled on British preparatory and public schools--also had uniforms. Quite a substantial number of children were involved in the parochial schools, but the number of private school children until recently has been much more limited. American public (state) school children have not worn uniforms, although quite a number of public schools have begun to study the issue. They were adoted at parochial schools and now are becoming increasingly common, especially at primary (elementary) schools and junior highschools. Many in the 1990s have begun instituting non-compulsory uniform policies.

Sports Uniforms

American high schools began engaging in inter-scholstic atletics as sports begn to become more poplar. Younger boys begn engaging in orgnized sport, especilly Little League baseball. his began (1930s), but became much more popular aftr World War II with the move into the suburbs (1940s). We see soccer leagues becoming imprtant (1970s). This is somewhat surprsing because youth soccer began before thee was any poular scoover trams or soccer was played in the schools. .

Youth Groups

The most common uniform in the years before school uniforms became common was the Boy Scout and other youth group uniforms. Scouting in the principal American youth group in America. The American Scouting movement was stongly influenced by Baden P owell's English Scouts, but there were several Scout-like groups which formed in Americam before the Enlish Scouting movement was formed. After Scouting became the dominate movement in the 1900s. Cunning got a late start in America (1930s). One of the most important was Camp Fire. Religious groups, objecting to the secular, non denominational constraints of Scoting formed the Royal rangers. Right and left wing groups also formed uouth groups of some importance, primarily in the 1930s.

Questionable Images

We have found images that we do not fully understand. Our assessment with these images is provide our assessment nf hope that readers will have insights to offer so we can better understandthese images. We can generally understand 20th cenury images because we lived thrugh more than hlf of it. The 19th century is often more dffiult to understnd because we are so far removed from it.

Created: 2:01 AM 9/23/2004
Last updated: 5:29 AM 4/6/2025