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1941. "Kids' race at the Fourth of July celebration in Vale, Oregon." Acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
If I recall my vintage catalog research well, shoes at the time mostly came with leather soles, in addition to leather uppers. With certain exceptions, like boots for barn wear or inclement weather, which were of course rubber. Leather soled shoes would be much too slick to run in, when what you're running on is dry dirt, therefore, stocking feet - for which you'll certainly get a scolding when your mother finds the condition of the "soles" of your socks! - or better yet, bare feet, are surely the way to go!
[Another exception would be the rubber-soled sneakers worn by zillions of boys. - Dave]
Never run a race without your Stetson on.
Barefoot seems to be the way to win. Stocking feet seems to be doing well also. Who needs shoes!
Nice to see that the race is one class and not split between boys and girls or between ages. Of course, don't know if they have separate prizes but at least it is one race.
They seem to be holding their own among all the boys.
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