Figure 1.--This Daguerotype is the oldest obviously school photographs we have archived on HBC. It is undated. We wouklf guess that it was porobabky taken in the late-1840s, but itcould have been taken in the early-1850s. The image is not real clear, but note the military-style Oliver Twist cap.

Photography began with the development of the Daguerreotype in France (1839). Within months, studios began opening in America. America from an early point would develop the largest photiographic industry in the world (1840s). The Daguerreotype was the only photographic process of anyb imprtance throughout the 1840s. We do not see school portraits ar first because photograohy was so new. But also the early photographic processes like the Daguerreotype only created on image. So images coukld not be sold to parents. So at first we only have images of children, mostly noys, in theitr school clothing. At the time, while American primary schools were coeducastional, few girls continued their education beyond the primary years. American children wore their regular clothes to school. Oliver Twist caps were popular for boys, a military style appearung during the Napoleonic War. Tunics were worn earlier. We are niot sure about the 1840s.

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Created: 4:46 AM 11/5/2022
Last updated: 4:46 AM 11/5/2022