Figure 1.--The boys here are brothers Ernest and Johnnie, 5 and 7 years old. We would have guessed that they were younger. This helps us know to what age this family had the boys wear ringlet curls. We do not know, however, if the ringlets were cut at 6 or 7 years of age. Most likely it was 6 years of age because this us when school began. We believe that the cabinet card dates to the 1890s. The portrait was taken by Cutbirth in Scramento, California.

Age 5 seems to be the last age where we see really large numbers of American boys wearing ringlet curls in the photographic record. Age 5 is an interesting age. Boys at age 5 begin to become a little more aware of things. We suspect that age 5 was the age that some boys would have begun to complain about wearining ringlets. Of course in the 19th century children had less to say about such matters, but that does not mean that they did not have opinions on such matters. A few figure out about Santa. They also begin to notice fashion conventions. Even so they are at this age still largely at home under mother's almost total control. Many parents breeched boys by age 5, but not all and we still see boys that were not breeched and wearing long ringlet curls. This is in part because most boys did not begin school until age 6 years. The photographic record still shows quite a number of boys with ringlet curls. We note an unidentified boy in the 1850s who looks to be about 5 years old. Ringlets do not appear to have been real common for boys at the time. We see a lot more examples in the late-19th century, especially with th appearance of the Fauntleroy craze. We know that Hugh James was 5 years old when he had his ringlets cut. We are not sure though if they were cut when he turned 5. We note an unidentified boy who looks to be about 5 years old. Another good example is Tommy Purcell in 1892. We note Theodore Roosevelt Johnson in 1912, probably just before he began school. The reason we still see many unbreeched boys and boys with ringlets at age 5 years is is in part because most boys did not begin school until age 6 years. School was a factor with boys hair styles and clothing because at school they met other boys both their own age and older. So they began to hear ideas and become acquianted with not only clothing and hair styles other boys were wearing, but what other boys thiought of their hair styles and clothing. Mother was no longer the sole arbitor of theur hair anhd clothing. Today children comnmonly attend pre-school and Kindergarten. This was ot thge case in the 19th century. Most children did not attend any form of school until they turned 6 years old and entered the 1st grade. Girls were more aware and interesred in such matters, but when boys begabn school they were exposed to the opinions and thoughts of others. This did not occur at age 5 years. It would occur at age 6 years when the boys began school. And we do not see boys beginning schoolm still weating ringlet or dessed in skirts. The photographic record is very clear about this. The examples of school age boys with ringlets we have found is virtually entirely portraits mothers had taken at studios as fond remeberances of their little treasures.

School

The reason we still see many unbreeched boys and boys with ringlets at age 5 years is is in part because most boys did not begin school until age 6 years. School was a factor with boys hair styles and clothing because at school they met other boys both their own age and older. So they began to hear ideas and become acquianted with not only clothing and hair styles other boys were wearing, but what other boys thiought of their hair styles and clothing. Mother was no longer the sole arbitor of theur hair anhd clothing. Today children comnmonly attend pre-school and Kindergarten. This was ot thge case in the 19th century. Most children did not attend any form of school until they turned 6 years old and entered the 1st grade. Girls were more aware and interesred in such matters, but when boys begabn school they were exposed to the opinions and thoughts of others. This did not occur at age 5 years. It would occur at age 6 years when the boys began school. And we do not see boys beginning schoolm still weating ringlet or dessed in skirts. The photographic record is very clear about this. The examples of school age boys with ringlets we have found is virtually entirely portraits mothers had taken at studios as fond remeberances of their little treasures.

Prevalence

Age 5 years seems to be the last age where ringlet curls for boys are still very prevalent. We still see realitively large numbers of American boys wearing ringlet curls in the photographic record. The photographic record still shows quite a number of boys with ringlet curls. Of course this varies chrinolgically. Most boys had short hair by age 5 years, even during the period that ringlets were most prevalent for boys. We see quite a number of boys with ringlets, perhaps something like 5 percent of the photographic record, perhaps somewhat less. This does not lead directly to actual prevalence, but with the decline in the price of photogrphy, it becvomes nore and more an accurate indicator. Of course a portrait of a boy at age 5 with ringlets does not tell us when his curls were cut, but portrits with older brothers does give us a good idea if they are close in age. We can get a very good idea as to about when the curls were cut. The two boys here are a good example (figure 1). Although the older brother is 7 years old, it is likely the younger brothe had his curls cut when he turned 6 years old or at least when he began school. This is clearly suggested by the photographic record.

Chronology

Our information on the eraly-19th century is limited, largely because of the lack of photographic evidence. Our initinal assessment is that thee were fewer boys with inglets in the early- and mid-19th century. We are guessing that economic factors are at play here. Ringlett cirls are a style that grw nore commion with th rising affluence of the United Sates. We note an unidentified boy in the 1850s who looks to be about 5 years old. Ringlets do not appear to have been real common for boys at the time. We see a lot more examples in the late-19th century, especially with th appearance of the Fauntleroy craze. We know that Hugh James was 5 years old when he had his ringlets cut. We are not sure though if they were cut when he turned 5 or later. We note an unidentified boy who looks to be about 5 years old. We note many examples in gthe 1890s. A good example is Tommy Purcell in 1892. The popularity of ringlt curl began to decline afer the turn-of-the 20th century. we see a few examoles. We note Wisconsin brothers dressed in identical sailor suits in the 1900s. The yiunger brother who looks to be about 5 year olds with short ringlets. We still see a few examoles in the 1910s. We note Theodore Roosevelt Johnson in 1912, probably just before he began school.

Awarness

Age 5 is an interesting age. Boys at age 5 begin to become a little more aware of things. We suspect that age 5 was the age that some boys would have begun to complain about wearining ringlets. Of course in the 19th century children had less to say about such matters, but that does not mean that they did not have opinions on such matters. A few figure out about Santa. They also begin to notice fashion conventions. Even so they are at this age still largely at home under mother's almost total control. A factor of course is if the boy had older brothers. An oly child probably did not think much of such matters. If h=e had an iolder britherb or brothers he could see how theuir ckothes or haie styling chasbged when they turned 76v years cold and began school. A good examole are the biys we see here (figure 1). c

Breeching

Many parents breeched boys by age 5, but not all and we still see boys that were not breeched and wearing long ringlet curls. This gets a little complicated. We see boys with ringles who have not yet been breechedas well as boys who have been breeched. By the same token we note boys wkith ringles at age 5 years who have not yet been breeches and who have been breeched. Mothers has quite differentb attitudes on this. But both breeching and ringlets become much less common after age 5 yearrs.

Social Class

The boys wearing ringlets at age 5 years seem to be primarily boys from affluent families. Social class may not have bee such an important factor for younger boys, but it certainly as for 5 year olds and much more sdo for even older boys. Here gthe factor was the effort needed to do the ringlets. It had to be either mothers at hom and often mothers who could afford help. This was because of the time and effort needed to do the curls.

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Created: 9:55 PM 8/31/2008
Last edited: 6:59 PM 11/30/2013