“A child’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased new school clothes” is a jocular statement that has been included in several lists of one-liners. The aphorism appeared as “Murphy’s First Law of September” in 1987 and is of unknown authorship.
13 September 1987, Kokomo (IN) Tribune, “Frank Gregory’s Talk of the Town,” pg. 23, col. 5:
In passing: Murphy’s First Law of September: A kid’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased those new school clothes!
Google Books
Prairie Farmer
Volume 162
1990
Pg. 40:
Here it is September and school is starting. A child’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased all new school clothes.
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It Starts on the Frontline
National School Public Relations Association
1993
Pg. ?:
“A child’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased new school clothes.”
Orben’s Current Comedy
Google Books
Carpenter
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Volumes 115-116
1995
Pg. 38:
GROWING UP
A child’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased new school clothes.
5 March 2004, Joplin (MO) Globe, pg. 6D, col. 1:
SCRAM-LETS ANSWERS
Being the mother of four boys I’ve observed that the greatest period of growth for a child is the month after you’ve purchased all new school CLOTHES.
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Edited by Erik Groset
Charleston, SC: Advantage Media Group
2012
Pg. 81:
A child’s greatest period of growth is the month after you’ve purchased new school clothes.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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