Rapid Company Parade Hat
date: label: Date made
content: 1810-1860
label: Date made
content: 19th century
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
label: Description
content: This pressed felt hat was in use during the latter part of the 19th century. The hat has been painted brown with a yellow varnish, and the shield bears the text “VENI VIDI VICI” in gold on a black banner. Underneath the banner is the text “RAPID/2.” The "EX" positioned above “VENI VIDI VICI” possibly refers to either the firemen's exemption from active military duty or that the owner is no longer an active member of the company. Retired firefighters referred to themselves as veterans and often indicated this on their equipment. The back brim of the hat features the text “SALEM” written on a stylized banner. This hat deviates in style from many of the “stovepipe” style fire hats seen in the collection, and is closer to the current style of fire hats. There is damage on the rear of the hat that might suggest this hat may have been used in action, and not just in parades.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Fire Fighting
label: Subject
content: Fraternal Associations
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
label: See more items in
content: Cultures & Communities
label: See more items in
content: Clothing & Accessories
label: See more items in
content: Work
label: See more items in
content: Art
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: McCosker, M.J.. The Historical Collection of the Insurance Company of North America
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0233.0118
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0118
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
objectType: label: Object Name
content: hat, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: painted (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric, pressed felt (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paint (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/2 in x 15 in; 19.05 cm x 38.1 cm