Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture
name: label: Creator
content: Mathis, Nathaniel, 1946- (barber, motivational speaker)
label: Interviewer
content: Ruffins, Fath Davis
place: label: Place
content: Washington (D.C.) -- Small business -- 20th century
topic: label: Topic
content: African American barbers
label: Topic
content: African American beauty operators
label: Topic
content: Barbers
label: Topic
content: Barbering
label: Topic
content: Barbershops -- Equipment and supplies -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C)
label: Topic
content: Beauty culture
label: Topic
content: Hair
label: Topic
content: Hairdressing of African Americans -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C.)
label: Topic
content: Inventors
label: Topic
content: Motivation -- Public speaking -- 1970-2000
label: Topic
content: Public speaking -- 1970-2000
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History by Nathaniel Mathis on April 9, 1998.
creator: label: Creator
content: Mathis, Nathaniel, 1946- (barber, motivational speaker)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture
abstract: label: Summary
content: Nathaniel Mathis is a Washington, D.C., hairstylist, inventor, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. His papers document his business life and community involvement.
accruals: label: Accruals
content: An additional .3 cubic feet was donated to the Archives Center in 2004; 3 audio cassettes, 1 DVD and 2 mini discs were added in 2006.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: "Nat Mathis (b. 1946) is a native Washingtonian.  He is a man of many talents and measures his success in many ways: innovative hairstylist, entrepreneur, inventor, community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. Mathis opened his first barber shop in 1969. He is the winner of many national and international hairstyling awards and competitions and was the first African American to win the International Hair Styling competition in Cairo, Egypt in 1981. Mathis was among the first African American hairstylists to embrace and popularize the Afro and, later, cornrows -- hairstyles which many view as expressions of black empowerment.  Mathis himself seldom expresses a political ideology of hair, but by 1970, Nat was known among his many satisfied clients and peers as "the Bush Doctor" for his expertise in Afro style and maintenance. He has styled hair for many celebrities; made numerous television appearances; and has been a stylist for several productions at the Kennedy Center, and for two major motion pictures, including Nixon, for which he re-created period hairstyles. He is active in community affairs, gives motivational speeches throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and is particularly interested in mentoring young people. He currently operates a barber shop adjacent to his home in Capitol Heights, Maryland."   

*Biographical information provided by Nat Mathis's Official Website, "A Man of Many Talents." http://www.natmathis.com (accessed 02 August, 2006).
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5.5 Cubic feet (18 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1946-2004
label: Date
content: bulk 1970-2004
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0641
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Awards
label: Type
content: Certificates
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Interviews
label: Type
content: Oral history
label: Type
content: Black-and-white photographic prints
label: Type
content: Videotapes
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into ten series.

Series 1: Biographical Information and Activities, 1946-2001, undated

Series 2: Beauty Business Documents and Advertising, 1969-2002, undated

Series 3: Publicity, 1963-2002

Series 4: Washington, D.C. Barbering and Cosmetology Boards, 1966-1997, undated

Series 5: Correspondence, 1967-2002, undated

Series 6: Awards and Certificates, 1969-2001, undated

Series 7: Photographs, 1966-1989, undated

Series 8: Video Materials, 1983-2002, undated

Series 9: Audio Tapes, 1998-2004, undated

Series 10: Memorabilia, 1992-1998, undated
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Mimi Minnick, archivist, 1998.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Awards
label: Genre/Form
content: Certificates
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1970-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews -- 1980-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews -- 2000-2010
label: Genre/Form
content: Oral history -- 1990-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Videotapes
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection documents the work of a hairstylist, inventor, entrepreneur, and public figure whose career reflects significant changes in the African American community in the later 20th century. It is rich in visual imagery created by and for this community. Business papers, correspondence, publicity, photographs, awards and certificates documenting Mathis's work as a highly regarded barber and hairstylist in Washington, D.C., and as member of the D.C. Board of Barbering and Cosmetology are included.  Business papers offer insight into the workings of a small privately-owned business. Numerous publicity items and photographs offer evidence of African American style and fashion in New York and Washington, D.C., from the late 1960s through today.  Additional material documents Mathis's activities as a community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. The collection also includes photographs, oral history interviews, and audio-visual materials.
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: Mr. Mathis donated three of his patented barbering vests (See Accession # 1998.0114) to the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).