Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol Uniform 1937

Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol
Although a very smart looking uniform, the men were sometimes referred to as Salvation Army personnel. It didn’t last long as the Highway Patrol merged with the State Police in that same year and a new uniform was adopted for the Motor Police Organization
Acts 168, 230, and 296 empowered the Pennsylvania Department of Highways to organize a State Highway Patrol in 1923.

The State Highway Patrol was enacted to take the lead in enforcing highway laws.

The regulation uniform of the Highway Patrol consisted of: blouse, breeches with black stripe running along outside leg, cap, puttees,
.38 caliber Colt side arm, and ornaments. Uniform pieces were made
of a lighter gray material than that used by the Pennsylvania State Police from 1906-1937.

A black shoulder belt and holster was worn in accordance with U.S. Army regulations. The regulation shoe was black, with boxed toe. The patrol badge was worn on the left breast of the uniform blouse and shirt.

In 1937, the State Highway Patrol radically changed the appearance of their regulation uniform from the conservative gray color to a midnight blue. The enlisted man’s uniform sported red diagonal trim on the lower
sleeves, thin red line along the outside edges of the breeches, red outlined the epaulettes, the top of the cap, and was shown as a red triangle on the collars.

This uniform consists of items donated by the following:
The estate of Trooper John Juran
Thomas Memmi in Memory of Major Thomas Martin
Philip White
The estate of Stephen Pawlak
Vincent Joyce
Raymond Folk
Robert Alexander in Memory of Patrolman Bud Alexander

This uniform consists of loaned items from the following: Thomas Memmi in Memory of Major Thomas Martin Pennsylvania State Police