Artifact JI1804, tray 26:
This is a felt hat, an artifact added to the Institute’s collection in October 2008. It was discovered in Providence, Rhode Island.
Not much is known about this artifact, but looking at it you can tell it’s been exposed to the elements for a while.
Looking at this image (to the right) you can see water damage and a few small holes. This means the hat was an everyday item or was left outside for long periods.
Also, this could mean that the hat might have been a lighter shade. This is supported by the lighter areas of the hat that seem to be less damaged and that water damage tends to darken fabrics.
This hat resembles hats worn by men throughout the 1950s-1960s. It could be a trilby hat, a popular item with men in that era.
An example of a Trilby hat:
There are similarities when compared to the artifact. Meaning, there’s a possibility they’re the same type of hat or at least from the same period.
This hat might have had the same detailing in this image(to the left). The ribbon could have been a bow or a ribbon to hold a small feather in. But over time the exposure to the elements–or normal wear-and-tare–could have caused it to rip or misshapen.
This felt hat was possibly worn by men from the 1950s-1960s and was an everyday accessory. This hat could be over 50 years old!
-ˋˏ ༻Haylee Guellar, Joukowsky Institute PrepareRI Intern, Summer 2024༺ ˎˊ-