Another member ID’d this cap for me as a M1902 Army Officer’s Dress Cap. I have a family history on it after around 1955 but am trying to find its history before then. Does anyone know what years this particular cap would have been issued and worn? It does have initials written in pencil on the headband which match a family member who was born in 1862 and passed at the age of 79 and I know this man’s son had this cap in his possession until around 1955 but I really don’t know if that would match that time frame of use for this cap. I also don’t see any record of service for him in his obituary. 
    
Thanks in advance for any input. 
Sincerely,

Hayman

 

 

Worn in the first  decade or so of the 20th Century 

Pre WW1 

Here's a good early view of this cap being worn, here by officers of the 20th Co. Coast Artillery in Florida, image from ebay. 
View from about 1903 (other soldiers shown have the 1903-09 1st Class Gunner's badge). 

Of note here is that these officers wear the short-lived national eagle collar insignia instead of "U.S." pins, worn about 1901-03. 
The cap you have is to be worn with the 1895 officer's undress coat, hence no branch-specific colored cap band. 
Worn about 1902/3 - 1916.

The "rimless" eagle buttons are 1902 type. Buttons became rimmed in 1912.

 

 

    That’s really good information, agate hunter. I still haven’t been able to track down where this cap came from pre approximately 1955. With this information I will keep on researching. 
 

Thanks,

Hayman