Historic New England has many straw hats from New England fashionistas
Boater, Panama, cowboy, short-brimmed, wide-brimmed, strewn with flowers or adorned with ribbon, occasionally a fedora or a fascinator, the straw hat goes by many names, appears in many shapes and forms, and has been around for centuries.
For many, donning a straw hat indicates the switch from winter to summer attire. And while hats reached peak popularity a century ago, the straw hat is still a significant style statement for many.
Some of our straw hats
Historic New England has many examples in its collection, including a photograph of our founder William Sumner Appleton (seen here on the steps of Otis House in Boston). Here are a few other favorites.
William Sumner Appleton at Otis House, 1929Grace and Calvin Coolidge with their dog Blackbury, 1931Haying in Thomaston, Maine, 1928Mary Wonson outside BeauportEarly women’s straw bonnetBeautiful women’s straw hat made of natural, woven strawStudio portrait of young boy with straw hatYoung Wampanoag girl with straw hat and wild flowers, c. 1900-1909Woman with flowered hat, 1898-1905
Discover more
You can explore more of Historic New England’s clothing and accessories in our Collections Access database.
