Grand Rapids Public Museum Collections : Artifact : Hat [121129]

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Clothing Accessories
Clothing and Accessories
Men's Clothing
Headwear ➔ Hat

Identifier:

121129

Description:

This top hat is made of black silk plush, also known as hatter's plush. It has a black grosgrain ribbon around the base of the crown and is roughly 13.5 centimeters tall. The silk plush is treated with shellac which helps to waterproof the hat. This hat belonged to Alpheus Bissell, father of Melville R. Bissell. The interior of the crown reads "Broadway".

Date:

circa 1870

Materials:

Silk Plush, Grosgrain Ribbon

Dimensions:

5.5"" h 10"" w 11"" d

Current Location Status:

In Storage

Collection Tier:

Tier 2

Source:

Museum Purchase

Related Entities:

Mrs. David Church (donor) Alpheus Bissell (used by)
Alpheus Bissell was born in 1801 in Canaan, Connecticut. During his life, he lived in New York, Wisconsin, and eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1824 he married Lydia Brooks and together they had four children, three of which survived to adulthood. One of those children was Melville R. Bissell, founder of Bissell Company.