The purpose of this study was to develop and test a data collection instrument that would facilitate description of the clothing of Oregon school boys 1867-1910. In addition, the researcher attempted to describe Oregon school-aged boys' clothing and determine if fashion changes occurred in Oregon boys' clothing. The researcher also determined if there were differences in the clothing of boys from rural and urban areas. The data collection instrument was developed by examining literature on children's clothing, photographs, and magazine and catalogue illustrations. In an attempt to capture dress characteristic of everyday wear, the data source for the study consisted of documented class portrait photographs from the collections of the Oregon and Benton County Historical Associations. The instrument provided for a systematic method of data collection according to the principles of content analysis. The instrument consisted of garment categories and design detail options. A handbook of illustrations and terms accompanied the instrument to ensure consistency and reliability. A total of 503 records were collected over a period of four months. After data collection, the original instrument was revised for future use. Some detail options were added and some deleted. A footwear category was incorporated into the revised instrument after it was determined that it would be possible to gather information about footwear from group photographs. Information gathered on boys' clothing from the school photographs both agreed and deviated from the literature. The basic garments were similar; however, the fancier styles in the literature were not found in the quantities that the researcher anticipated and the literature indicated. Some garments, design details, and silhouettes changed over time. The presence of the actual garments did not vary, but some details such as lapel width, single or double breasted, and jacket style did, as well as how the garments were worn (i.e., buttoned, unbuttoned). Rural and urban differences occurred and were most pronounced in the quantity of garments worn (more urban boys wore suit jackets, waistcoats, ties, and hats than did rural boys) and how the garments were worn. The entire neck tie category was very different between rural and urban records. / Graduation date: 1996