Figure 1.-- Here we have a stereoscope view of the Potter Street School in Boston. Stroscope school portraits ate not very common. We do not know what the school was called at the time, but we know it was located on Potter Street. The stereoscope is not dated, but the clothing involves strongly suggests the 1870s. We see what looks like a class group with 26 children, not the entire school with mixed-aged children. The building in back looks like a frly substantial wood-frame building. The class looks to be what we would guess is a 4th grade class, meaning children about 9-10 years old. The portrait was taken at the Alden Studio in Boston.

Here we have a stereoscope view of the Potter Street School in Boston. Stroscope school portraits ate not very common. We do not know what the school was called at the time, but we know it was located on Potter Street. The stereoscope is not dated, but the clothing involves strongly suggests the 1870s. We see what looks like a class group with 26 children, not the entire school with mixed-aged children. The building in back looks like a fairly substantial building. The class looks to be what we would guess is a 4th grade class, meaning children about 9-10 years old. The portrait is notable for two reasons. First, very few of the boys wear suits. The boys mostly wear blouses. We see only two regular suits and one sailor suit. This is the first time we recall seeing a sailor suitin a school portrait. We think that the small number of suits may be in part seasonal, note that at least two boys are barefoot. Economics may be another factor. The phenomenal America inditrial engine was underway, but still at an early point. And rising income levels mean it became increasingly common to wear suits to school, esecially in urban areas. Second, the girls are wearing pinafores. We are not sure all are wearing pinafores, but certainly most are.

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Created: 12:05 AM 12/27/2016
Last updated: 12:05 AM 12/27/2016