Peaked Caps: Chronology


Figure 1.--These American boys (Iowa) were opgotographed in 1911. Notice how the older boy wears a golf-style cap while the younger boy wears a standard peaked cap.

HBC does not have precise chronological information, but can sketch out an approximate chromology by an examination of available photographic images. The development of photography, in fact appears to have coincided with that of the peaked cap. We note peaked caps first in Britain during the 1850s. From the beginning they were a chool style in Britain. We begin to see American boys wearing them during the late 19th century Gradually in America they lost popularity to flat caps. They countibued go be worn for school in Britain. They were also used for the Cub uniform in Britain. This style was copied in many other national Scout movemets as other ountries added Cub programs. We also see them in European countries, but seem to be less assocoated with school. Popularity varied from country to country. They seem to have been especially popular in the Netherlands. While flat caps became the main boys style in America, by the 1920s we do still see boys wearing peaked caps. They seem to have been a styled favored by well-to-do families, perhaps beause of the association with Britain. They were sometines worn with matcing suits. They became lass common by the 1970s. In Britain they became after World War II an exclussively school style, but began to decline in the 1960s, even at schools.

The 19th Century


The 1840s

The development of photography, in fact appears to have coincided with that of the peaked cap. We do not know if peaked caps were worn in the 1840s. Photography at the time ws still quite limited

The 1850s

We are not precisely sure when peaked caps first appeared. We first note them in Britain during the 1850s, but I do not know if they were worn earlier. They appear at first to have been an exclusively school style.

The 1860s

Photographs exist of boys wearing peaked cap for cricket and at other outdoor sporting events.

The 1870s

The peaked cap was being widely adopted at schools throughout Britain and its colonies.

The 1880s


The 1890s

Virtually every British boy wore a peaked cap to school, although the youngest might wear a sailor cap. Even schools that did not have uniforns might have the boys wear destinctive caps. American boys sometimes wore peaked caps to school, but not as part of a unifom. Some porivate schools did require them. We begin to see American boys wearing them at the turn of the 20th century. We see boys wearing them with fanct dress up clothes as well as ordiary every day wear.

The 20th Century


The 1900s

Virtually every Britsh school boy in the 1900s wore a peaked cap. They were worn in both exclusive private schools and state schools. A good example is George and Ewan McTherson (1902). Notice the small peaks. This is also amply illustrated in English school literatutre. Illustrations in books of course is not quite as definitive an indication as a dated photoograph. These illustrations, however, have some advantages in that they can usually be dated. Theu also provide context as to the occassions in wehich garments were worn that is often lacking in a photograph, especially a stiff formal portrait. We note some American boys wearing peaked caps with a much fuller crown, a kind of dress peaked cap. This style was not schoolwear and persisted through the 1920s, but was not nearly as common as the standard school cap. The peaked cap in America had social class connotatiins and was primarily worn by boys from wealthy families.

The 1910s

The British Scout Association established Wolf Cubs in 1916. I'm not sure just when the green peaked cap with yellow piping was adopted, but it was commonly being worn by the 1920s and served as the basis for the original Cub caps around the world. Cubs commonly wore this style until the 1980s and some still do. The peaked cap was seen as a younger boy's cap, although it varied from country to country. They were mostly worn by pre-teens in America, but school boys in secondary school might wear them in America. The style was very commonly worn in America by the 1910s as the sailor hat was beginning to decline in popularity. Unlike England it was not seen as a school cap in America. Gradually in America they lost popularity to flat caps. While it was a popular style in England and America, it was not as commonly worn in other countries--except by Cub Scouts.

The 1920s

With the declining popularity of the sailor suit and cap, even younger American boys began wearing suits in the 1920s. Often they would be worn with a peaked cap matching the suit. While flat caps became the main boys style in America, we still see some boys wearing peaked caps. They seem to have been a styled favored by well-to-do families, perhaps beause of the association with Britain. They were sometines worn with matcing suits. It appears to have increasingly become in American to be seen as a dressy style worn with suits. It became the principal cap style for younger boys wearing the American Eton suit. In England it continued to be seen primarily as a school cap style. It was still very extensively worn in England as demonstrated by Thomas Henry's wonderful illustrations for Just William. We also see them in European countries, but seem to be less assocoated with school. Popularity varied from country to country. They seem to have been especially popular in the Netherlands.

The 1930s

American Scouts finally established cubs in 1930. They adopted the British peaked cub cap, but it was blue with yellow piping rather than green like the British cap. Other American boys were less common wearing peaked caps. It was increasingly seen as a younger boys' cap and also as an upper class style--mostly worn by pre-teens with short pants suits. English boys wearing peaked caps as part of their uniforms or school wear continued to feature prominently in English school literature.

The 1940s

No infprmation available specifically on the 1940s at this time other than the American and British conventions described above continued.

The 1950s

British school caps were commonly worn through the 1950s, although they were becoming unpopular with the boys, esoecially older boys. It was at private schools, primarily preparatory schools, where they still continued to be worn. A feeling for this trend can be seen in English school literature, by the 1950s a declining genre.

The 1960s

Head gear in general declined in popularity during the 1960s. In Britain they became after World War II an exclussively school style, but begn to decline in the 1960s, even at schools.British boys increasingly objected to wearing them and many schools began allowing the senior boys to not wear them. By the end of the decade most schools had dropped hem entirely. Many Britis prep schools, however, retained them. American boys stopped wearing peaked caps with their suits, except for the younger boys wearing Eton suits.

The 1970s

Even British prep schools began dispensing with caps in the 1970s. Peaked caps were not very common in America by the 1970s as part of suits.

The 1980s

American Cubs switched from a peaked to a baseball cap in 1980. During the 1980s most British prep schools did away withcaps, but a few retained them--especially for the younger boys.

The 1990s

The British cubs in the 1990s made caps at first optional and by the end of the decade had dispensed with them altogethet.









HBC





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Created: 7:14 PM 9/11/2006
Last updated: 7:14 PM 9/11/2006