Figure 1.--This sschool portrait is undddted, but the mount clearly dates it to the 1900s decade. There is mo studio imprint or other accompaning information. It looks to us like a small high school. They are shown in what looks like the auditorium room. The younger children would be about 14-years old. Most of the children would be 14-19 years old, ,eaning 9-12th grade.) The first American high schools were small because so few childen attended them. in the 19th and early-20th centuries. This was a large cabinet card, 8" x 10".

Most American children began school at age 6 years with 1srvgrade. There were some kindergartens for 5 year olds, butb not very many. We see also see some younger boys at regular primaries, especially in rural areas where teachers might allow younger brothers and susters to tag along with older siblings. Younger boys just beginning school wore quite a variety of outfit, even outfits with Little Lord Fauntleroy touches. This style was going out of fashion in the 1900s, but we still see some in the early-1900s. We see many younger boys wearing button-on outfits like the boy on the previous page. Blouses with large collars were also common. Sailor suits were a popular choice. Most younger and even tnagers knee pants with long stockings, usally black. We begin to see knickjers at the end of the decade, also worn with long stockings. Many American schools were eiight year elementary schools--1st-8th grade. Most children dud not go beyond these 8 years. Secondary schools meaning high schools existed, This was a 4 year porogram for both 9th-12th grade. Here we see what looks like a small high svhool with the 9-12 th gradev students. It was mostly middle-class children that attended the highh schools m. Attendance was incresing, but was still a minority of children. First day portraits were not as common in America as in Germany, but a wealth of school photography provides derailed information on how children dressed for school in the 1900s decade. As most schools were coeducational we have an extendsive record for both boys and girls.

Kindergarten

There were some kindergartens for 5 year olds, butb not very many. We see also see some younger boys at regular primaries, especially in rural areas where teachers might allow younger brothers and susters to tag along with older siblings.

First Grade

Most American children began school at age 6 years with 1st grade. Younger boys just beginning school wore quite a variety of outfit, even outfits with Little Lord Fauntleroy touches. This style was going out of fashion in the 1900s, but we still see some in the early-1900s. First graders areoften destinctive because mom commonly chose their cltohing without any input from the boys. But at school hey began to get comments from the other children as well as hgey saw gow the her children were dressing annd they soon began to want to dress like the oher children, especially the older children. Mon's varies on how they rected to this. We see many younger boys wearing button-on outfits like the boy on the previous page. Blouses with large collars were also common. Sailor suits were a popular choice. Most younger and even teennagers knee pants with long stockings, usually black. The younger children might not wear long stockings, but the older boys mostly did. The major exception is boys going barefoot which was very common, especially inrural aeas. and a majority of Americans in the 1900s decade still lived in rural areas. First day portraits were not as common in America as in Germany. Some age/grade levels are difficult to spt unless they are identified. First graders are fairly easy because they are the youngest regular grade level.

Third Grade

We begin to see knickjers at the end of the decade, also worn with long stockings. Some tonger boys continued to wear knee pants for a while, but by the end of thedecade knickers were beginning to become standard even for older boys.

Eighth Grade

Many American schools were eiight year elementary schools--1st-8th grade. Most children dud not go beyond these 8 years.

Ninth Grade

Secondary schools meaning high schools existed, This was a 4 year porogram for both 9th-12th grade. Some big city cities had junior highs gor 7-9th grade, but for the most part, Americansecondary schools (high schools) began with 9th grade. Here we see what looks like a small high svhool with the 9-12 grade students (figure1). The 9th graders are seated in the front brow. All the boys except vone wears knee pants suits. School wear was still realyively formal in the 1900s, especially in the high chools. It was mostly middle-class children that attended the high schools. Our website has an international readersgip, so we have to be a little careful wityh terminology. Middle-class has somewhat of a different meaning in America than Europe. In America it has more of an income connotation. In Europe middle-class is primarily defined by job type. Most working-class children ended their education with 8th grade. Attendance was incresing, but was still a minority of children.

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Created: 4:16 AM 4/5/2022
Last updated: 4:16 AM 4/5/2022