Fisherman’s Oilskin Hat
date: label: date made
content: early 1880s
label: used
content: late 19th century
label: on exhibit
content: 1883
notes: label: Description
content: Gloucester fishermen working on the North Atlantic were exposed to harsh weather conditions. Waves and freezing rain splashed over the decks and into the dories while the men worked. For some measure of protection, fishermen in the 19th century wore oiled clothes, the precursors to today’s waterproof foul weather gear.
label: Description
content: This hat, referred to as a “Cape Ann sou’wester” because of its wide use in the fisheries around Cape Ann, Mass., is made of soft oiled canvas and lined with flannel. It has an elongated brim in the back to keep water from running down the wearer’s neck and inside his clothing. Ear flaps for warmth are also part of the hat’s design.
label: Description
content: A catalog from the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London claimed that with the sou’wester, “no class of seamen were so comfortably clothed as the New England fishermen.” At the time of the exhibition’s opening, sou’westers cost about $6.50 per dozen.
label: Description
content: This Cape Ann sou’wester was displayed at the London exhibition, courtesy of its manufacturer, A. J. Tower of Boston, Mass. It was part of a display of the latest gear used and worn by American fishermen.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
label: Associated Place
content: Atlantic Ocean
label: on exhibit
content: United Kingdom: England, London
label: commonly used
content: United States: Massachusetts, Cape Ann
topic: label: Subject
content: Fishing
label: related event
content: International Fisheries Exhibition
label: related event
content: The Development of the Industrial United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Fisheries
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
label: Exhibition
content: On the Water
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: National Museum of American History. On the Water exhibition website
label: Related Web Publication
content: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2009.0157.03
label: catalog number
content: 102126
label: accession number
content: 2009.0157
objectType: label: Object Name
content: hat, sou'wester
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cotton canvas (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: flannel lining (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 24 cm x 50 mm x 41 cm; 9 7/16 in x 1 15/16 in x 16 1/8 in