Fedora, 1920-1940

According to our records, the hat belonged to Henry Ford.Born in 1863 on a farm in what is now Dearborn, Michigan, Henry Ford parlayed a youthful aptitude for engineering into a career as an automotive innovator and founder/president of Ford Motor Company. Among his ideas were the introduction of the first moving automobile assembly line, affordable pricing, fair wages for employees, and the vertical integration of manufacturing processes from raw materials to the finished product. His many phil…

Drawn Bonnet, 1840-1849

This is an excellent example of an 1840's drawn bonnet, which was likely worn for formal afternoon events.

Bonnet, about 1850

Bonnet, about 1840

The quilting of this bonnet tells us that it was likely worn seasonally in the fall and winter.

Hat, about 1915

This light weight hat was likely worn seasonally in the spring and summer. It has two labels, one sewn over the other. They likely represent the manufacturer or designer and retailer of the hat, but it is unclear which is which.

Capote Bonnet, 1820-1830

A capote- literally, French for hood-began to be worn in 1790s.It is characterized by a stiffened fabric brim framing the face, a soft gathered or pouch-line crown, and ribbon ties extending from the crown.The American prairie sunbonnet is a descendant of the capote.

Bonnet, 1848-1857

During the 1850s, popular women's hairstyles were exaggerated at the front, puffed out at the sides, with hair pulled back low on the neck; and hat shapes changed to accommodate this. This is an example of such a hat. It is smaller and the crown does not extend as far out as hats popular in the previous decade. It does however, have a bavolet- the flap of fabric at the base of the crown which covers the nape of the neck- which also began to disappear around this time.

Drawn Bonnet, 1840-1848