Before photographs were widely available, people occasionally safekept the hair of loved ones, like a portrait, in their journals. Hair is a part of the human body that keeps its shape and color for centuries to come. This practice of keeping hair as a momento was popularized during the Victorian era (1837– 1901) when Queen Victoria’s formal grieving of her husband’s death in 1861 encouraged a time of national sentimentality and mourning. The practice then traveled to American frontiers due to the high death toll of the Civil War during 1861– 1865. Hair began appearing in diaries, was creatively woven into jewelry and flowers, or was kept in boxes or envelopes to be revisited. Notably, the trend was mainly practiced by women, whether it was to commemorate lost loved ones, preserve a child, or celebrate friendships.
Bassett , Jennie M. Mrs. Autograph Album.
This book contains locks of hair from 30 different people in Bassett’s life, each lock carefully woven into their own unique configuration, with the owner’s signature nearby. Although hair art is often associated with objects of mourning, it was just as often used to make family trees or tokens of friendship. This use of hair as a form of ‘autograph’ adds intimacy and a sense of a cherished relationship between the parties.
Dodds, Mary. Hair Book.
This book suggests a family tree, with many of the hair owners sharing the surnames, Henderson and Harrison. Short poems are written by the hair owners to Mary, expressing sentiments about their relationship.
The first page of the book reads:
“This book is destined to preserve the memorials of acquaintance, of esteem, of friendship, of affection, to contain the thoughts of many minds. To bear the [impression] of many characters. How various will be its tone, its temper, its talent, its moral expression, influence and feeling.”
Lee, Flora Leonard. Journal written for Mary Madge Leonard by her mother.
This journal is dedicated to the author’s child.
After her child slipped out of her sight, she wrote about the incident and included a lock of hair on the page, suggesting an attempt to preserve a piece of her child after the scare.
An excerpt from the entry reads:
“I thought you were [merrily playing] in the next room, it was only about five minutes..”
She later elaborates:
“…you ran so quickly down the front steps out the gate and had almost reached the bridge out by the mill where there is a very dangerous crossing. Some gentlemen met you– a little stray– and brought the lost one home. How carefully I shall have to guard you these coming months should you live. It is such a dangerous place near by the river. Just now I think of one baby not much older than you who lived near us [who] was drowned a few years ago— just above the mill.”
Bacon, Mary L. Memorial diary.
This diary, by Mary Bacon, contains many memorials dedicated to her loved ones who passed away. The first entries commemorate her father and mother, who both passed away. A lock of hair from each parent is stitched and labeled on a page, followed by writings that recount memories of them.
The largest section of the diary is dedicated to Sarah Bacon, her daughter, who passed away at 6 years old. It contains many poems and letters written by family and friends, mostly by Mary Bacon. She describes Sarah as a very intelligent and kind child. Sarah fell sick with a cold that baffled their three doctors. Medication did not work, and after three weeks, she passed away.
Stitched onto a page are two locks of hair labeled “Allie P. Bacon,” and “Sarah L. Bacon” followed by a long poem.
One of the stanzas read:
“And this is all of thee we retain
Dear Sarah the grove has the rest
Thy form shall we see not again
Thy pure spirit is now with the blest”
Written by [B.] L. Bacon on March 12th, 1847
