Mike Rowe Learns ANCIENT Method of Tracking Genealogies | Somebody's Gotta Do It

[@shotgunbettygaming]

I used to work for a consigner and one day a woman walked in with a shoebox FULL of bracelets and earrings made from human hair. I was FASCINATED before I became repulsed momentarily. Neither my boss nor I had ever seen anything like it and it was my job as the person responsible for collectibles , to do the research on what the hell it was! I discovered it was called Mourning Locks. Traditionally made after the passing of a loved one. As she said, family and neighbors would all pitch in and weave an item or design out of locks taken from the deceased's head and the family would keep and preserve it as we do photographs of ancestors today. It's clearly a lost artform and one I never knew existed until that day. I felt it both morbid and beautiful. You would not believe the intricacy of which some of the pieces were made, woven like handmade lace so fine it boggled the mind. Delicate, delicate artworks of the like I have never seen since....until now. All I want to do is scooch up close to these framed pieces with a magnifying glass because I already know how complex the pieces we are looking at from afar are. How very cool. Never thought I'd see anything like this again.

[@sourceawry4035]

I recently came into my grandmother's antique button collection. Many of the buttons she had were framed in shadow boxes, but she also had an extensive collection that was not framed, and I have the unframed buttons. Let me tell you that they are absolutely enchanting to look through, and I have had to laugh at myself about the number of hours I have spent just looking at them. I have black hardened rubber buttons made by good year, I have various revolutionary and civil war uniform buttons made of brass, I have a little enamel button that is designed to occupy a button hole and looks much like a pin would, without the pin. This pinless button has the insignia of a broom and whisk makers union that no longer exists. I have steel cuts and black glass, and the details are absolutely incredible. Some of the black glass buttons can also be used as wax seal imprints. I have cup buttons and cellulose, leather and wood, enamel, filligrie, colored glass, and polished stone, bone, shell, and metal. They are all handmade by skilled workers in button factories, and I imagine all the ways our lives are so diferent from the times when there was need for people to work in button factories. They sure knew how to do more with their hands than type. Even typing gave hands a work out back then, on the old typewriters. It requires strong fingers to push them, and the buttons are farther spaced, and it is a wonder to me how they managed to type so fast on those machines. They didn't even have corrective tape, so mistakes were not an option. I have seen some of the things you are describing, regarding the art that was made from the hair of loved ones after their passing. It is masterful craftsmanship beyond my comprehension. I do crochet, but it is no easy thing to use the tiniest hooks, and the finer the thread the harder it is to handle. Then hair poses yet another problem, in that it will look frayed if the hair is not very long, but none of their finished pieces are flawed at all. I don't think could even see that well to appreciate the intricacies, let alone try to recreate similar. It amazes me to think of how we occupied our hands before using them to stuff potato chips in our mouths in front of the tv...not that I do that, bc I was blessed with a lack of interest in the tv, which is probably why I even noticed my buttons in the first place. My three sisters were going to throw them away!! They are relics of our prior eras, and even if not personally valued sentimentally, they are remnants of history and I will preserve them. I think we were better then, and it might do us well to explore the old crafts for our own cultural enrichment. I hope you discover all sorts of new old things in the process of your project. The type of collectors that would be interested are bound to be a treasure trove of heritage, and I hope your seller is pleased with what returns are gotten for her collection. Cheers!

[@venus189]

I have a bag with my dead cats hair😂. Only thing I can keep of her. Pluss pictures so keeping loved ones hair makes sense.

[@laraleepn]

@@venus189 I've spun hair collected from a beloved dog of a friend that I gave to her to knit with. Cat hair is usually harder as it's very short, but if mixed with longer fiber, like wool can be spun and made into very warm items.

[@livinginthenow]

I'd say a trip to Independence, Missouri might be in your future. 😉

[@icarusbinns3156]

I believe it’s a Victorian tradition?

[@andreacagle208]

If people like Leila don’t keep things like this alive, we lose bits of our history that can’t be revived.

[@lhanso20]

You made a little poem!

[@caw7007]

💖💖💇‍♂️💇‍♀️

[@pearldolphin20]

There's a lady occasionally (Fronter Days for example) at the Sharlott Hall museum in Prescott Arizona that does this sort of thing.

[@Keylimelife]

I believe this place closed during 2020 and hadn't opened again. I'm from that area.

[@diannamc367]

@@Keylimelife that sad story is unfortunately common these days.

[@erikarizkallah9309]

Loved this episode! I have a hair wreath from my ancestors - it used to hang in my great grandparents farmhouse. When I was little I’d make my grandmother remove it because it terrified me. But when she died, it was the one thing I had to have. Now it hangs proudly in my home & I enjoy showing and scaring other people 😂

[@debbiew.7716]

You are very lucky to have that. Not only is it rich family history but they are very valuable. (Don't tell your cousin's! LOL)

[@whyaskwhybuddry]

@Erika Rizkalkah, you should take samples of that wreath and get DNA testing on it.

[@carolmiller8811]

“…scaring other people” So funny!😂

[@john1182]

i have never heard of a hair wreath as an Aussie but I love the idea, I wish a had a part of my grand and great grand parents with me, i have only some vague memories of 2 of my great grand parents.

[@eetoved1758]

I love everything about this story ❤

[@starkravenwild791]

"how could you have lived so long and Not know these things?' Leila is a hoot!! Thanks Mike for making us smile with something uplifting amongst all the garbage that is so called entertainment.

[@gargoyleb]

All the unusual stuff he gets to do is great, but I think it's the people (Characters) he meets that makes the show.

[@Seventeen_Syllables]

I'm going to steal that line someday.

[@tonyshaw7420]

I'm love hearing the crew quietly laughing in the background 🤣🤣🤣❤️🇨🇦 OK tears in my eyes at "you getting pictures of this"

[@secondarycontainment4727]

I was sitting waiting for the plane to take off and a Ford commercial came on. Just the truck and a voice. And I said out loud "That's Mike Rowe" at the same time that the little kid sitting next to me did... I was so proud of that little boy. We shared a nice smile. We love you Mike! Keep up the work.

[@ibelieveinangelsyesido7436]

Oh, my word! This was a masterpiece, Mike! LOVE Leila! May God grant her many years! What a hoot! Get her together with your mom & you've got a show!!! Blessings! Jackie in upstate NY

[@patriciayoung3267]

Oh, I so agree - Patty from Upstate NY

[@SeliahK]

Yes! I find things Iike this absolutely fascinating. Totally agreed. :) -- Samantha, also upstate NY

[@eetoved1758]

He should take her along as a co-host. She's fun.

[@bonniewilkins3419]

Isn’t that museum fabulous? Mike, you made a trip to the Hair Museum a great time!

[@FCWW87]

Don’t ever stop being you, Mike. You’re a national treasure, and I’m not just saying that. Through the powers vested in me by yada yada, you are now and forever a National Treasure.

[@patdonnelly9392]

Agreed!

[@InitialScooby]

This was surprisingly one of the best episodes! Had me smiling the whole time

[@MaryDalton64]

Leila's museum has always been one of the places on my bucket list. I have spent decades doing genealogy and as a part of that I have learned a lot about the many strange (to us modern folks) ways in which the people of the past mourned and memorialized their dead. The hair art and jewelry was one thing that always fascinated me because it not only was a physical token of the person, but the amount of detail and intricacies is just fantastic. Especially in some of the larger pieces. I can't even imagine the amount of time it would take to create something like that.

[@sonofhibbs4425]

Not only are the items in that museum artful and beautiful, but a treasure trove of ancestral dna!

[@jeffj2495]

Mike - you bring smiles to our unhappy times. Cruddy politics, world in striff, economy challenged. Yet we can find solace and laughter with you. Please help us and continue to give us more laughs. I am not kidding. You are a national treasure and content like this is great.

[@irisf.9355]

This was a fantastic episode! What a fun lady and unique museum. Never stop showing us these people and places that are one of a kind.

[@Winnie-Kay]

Omgosh! I absolutely love Leila🧡 I want to spend a week with her and her no nonsense sarcastic humor. 😎

[@larag4646]

This has got to be one of y'alls best episodes. I laughed the whole way through. Boy she's got some zingers!

[@MoxiePusher]

Some times you never know what a gem you'll find when you ask people for an interesting place to go. Thank you for going. Loved it.

[@glf2424]

I had to chuckle so many times. Reminds me of my great grandmother when I was a kid. They speak straight and as a matter of fact. She was adorable.

[@deirdremartinez1207]

This has to be one of the best shows you have done. I am so incredibly interested in visiting this museum. I hope she leaves her treasure to the Smithsonian museum.

[@monamartin3022]

Loved her story about her being named after her father's girlfriend. One of my sisters and I were named after 2 of our dad's girlfriends. Our parents had almost 50 years of marriage, when dad passed in '86. Love the show. Mike, you did good.

[@martymcpeak4748]

Mike,you, seem to put people at ease and get the most natural reactions and conversations out of them. You Sir are Top Shelf

[@chaddean1234]

I laughed so much at this episode, she was as such a sweet lady😂

[@thetwitchywitchy]

Leila is such a beautiful person :) Just so sweet and honestly what she does is pretty fantastic, wanting to preserve and curate something for a greater good outside of oneself is something not many people do. I have a lot of respect for people like Leila :) What she does is absolutely beautiful and very meaningful ❤ Thank you so much for bringing what she does to a broader audience that may not have ever learned about what she does 😊

[@nanchesca3950]

I thought that this would be creepy but it was actually very interesting! If I ever visited this town I would be sure to check this out!

[@EVOLr]

Thank you so much for such a pleasant time at Leila’s Hair Museum. Mr. Rowe, you made me smile the whole time watching. 😅

[@adamsmith2972]

Mike, you are a flaming chip off the American anvil. Our nation is still a great place with men like you

[@debbiew.7716]

About 20 years ago I met a lady who found a small one of these hair wreaths, maybe 8" x 10" at a thrift store. She paid $6 dollars for it, then sold it for $5,000. It might be in Leila's museum! People don't realise what a treasure these things are.

[@RumpussVonShakerStein]

I wish I had one

[@TiredMomma]

I never thought of it as geneology related, but now it fits in with the baby books. A small strand of a little ones first haircut gets put into the book. A neat thing I learned years ago is how hair is used for oil spills. It makes sense since our hairs hold onto our own oils til we wash it. My kids "hate" my hair balls from my brushes, they run from them like it's a scary creature, lol!

[@Danielle33384]

🤣🤣 I know exactly what you mean with the scary creatures! I have so many hair balls nowadays after brushing and washing my hair I’m surprised I have any hair at all.

[@Solhai]

That is a beautiful collection. While other museums have a few pieces like these, the wealth of them here is inspiring. It's a lovely memento.

[@moleqle]

I’d love to have a genealogical tree with the actual hair of my ancestors. Much respect for keeping the history alive ma’am.

[@RumpussVonShakerStein]

Me too! I want to make one of myself and my daughter

[@dmr8914]

For people who had no other way, these are amazing memories of loved ones. Not my thing, but this woman keeps an immaculate museum! I only hope that all that hair - is from the head!!!AAAAHHH!

[@hiho8084]

Leila is fantastic! What a fun episode. Mike has such a great way of interviewing people.

[@Allsfairinloveandwarr]

This is an absolutely beautiful way to preserve someone's ancestry. I would love to go there.

[@krisdoan2256]

I have a client (I'm a cosmetologist) who has a book about this museum Wow this is very interesting to me....all about the hair!

[@williamcassidy685]

I know if you go back to medieval times they kept a lock of hair of their loved ones before they left for battle. And I’m pretty sure the Victorian era was big on keeping hair doing things similar to what she has in the museum.

[@maryappold1023]

Fascinating history lesson. And she's got the sass of a Missouri resident all right. Glad she has the museum.

[@katm5903]

I'm so glad she had the foresight to preserve this art and history. I love you guys both being smart allicks lol. I wish I could show you my nasty job lol

[@tpseeker3367]

Would love to see Mike get Leila & Trudy Eastman the lady that plucked goose feathers & made pillows together & hear them talk about what they've seen & been through.

[@magn630]

Comedy, history and an added destination to the bucket list - great episode, you had me laughing out loud.

[@ShalenaMarie]

Best wishes with the completion and publishing of your books Leila (beautiful name). Very fascinating, the collection, the history. Your passion and knowledge are appreciated ❤

[@__Jess910]

This is by far the best!! Leila is a legend!

[@JessEla87]

I love to see Jonesy and Troy still working with Mike ❤

[@esskinner3931]

Thank you, Gwen Carver!!! Thank you, Mike for finding and showcasing treasures like Leila. Wonderful!

[@raycatlin3554]

Wonderful , Great to see spirited people still striving to BE Unique ! . Solid Gold 🏆 👍

[@Friedbrain11]

Couldn't help it... I was either smiling or laughing through the episode and loving it.

[@kate2create738]

What a fun place, Leila seems like a very well knowledged lady who is entertaining. Don’t know what is better, her passion for the craft of antique hair “fancy work,” listening to her go through each frame knowing each semblance as if they were a part of her family, or how knows how to pull the punches with dignity. Hopefully this video will get her more attraction to the museum cause you can tell that she loves what she does.

[@2wahineandadog]

Wow I've never heard of this type of geneology art - as a Kiwi myself I am dying to know what the names on the New Zealand wreath were - fascinating!

[@kurtkabat203]

Awesome 👏 what an amazing hair brain idea you never cease to amaze me Mike Rowe!

[@blip-2024]

Amazing! Leila is a delight. I must say that the displays are beautifully done. If I am ever I the area, Leila will have my 6$! Money well spent.

[@debbiedunn4477]

I've watched Mike Rowe for many years on other shows and this one did not disappoint. Thank you Mike!

[@Papazipper9436]

What a wonderful human being she is!

[@SD-ru5rk]

Mike snuck in a "too Beaucoup" within the confines of such a wholesome episode with an elegance only he could manage to pull off. And no Mike... "its not too god damn Beaucoup!" Love it brother, keep up the great work my friend!

[@conniecoffeeconniebachmann3211]

This was edited so well. I would love to see more.

[@sued1116]

Never stop Mike. Love everything you do, thanks so much for years of interesting tv/people. God Bless you 💕💓🥰

[@tammyC1971]

Thank you for doing this show. You have given an old lady another reason to be proud of her work and smile once again.

[@cheryltaggart1648]

My mom kept clippings from her children's first hair cut. There may be a reason this custom exists. Now my hair is white. It's nice to remember what it looked like when it had color! It occurs to me that hair can last a long time without breaking down. It also doesn't take up much space. It makes it a very practical memory anchor to help the grieving process. My home town has a museum that has a lock of Washington's hair. It seems to be a popular item. I wonder if he went bald into the grave 😳

[@Mary1292011]

this is actually pretty neat. a peice of history i diddnt know existed and im glad to see someone is keeping this knowledge alive.

[@SledDog5678]

Mike Rowe has an amazing voice.

[@Garouwerks]

Magical! Made me smile from start to finish. Thank you Leila and Crew!

[@ndewey7]

What a beautiful collection! I wish this would come back into fashion. It’s something I personally would like done with my hair when I am gone. I think it’s a wonderful memento. Love this museum.

[@dianemiller6580]

Now days it's rare to know someone who would have or take the time to do this intricate of work. Now life is all about hurrying and instant gratification.

[@Samandcocoa]

thank you for your hard work. brought a smile to my face.

[@sheilacape4794]

Now I've really enjoyed this, thank you, Laila and Mike!

[@dianemiller6580]

Mike Rowe you have been a bright & humorous part of my life all.of these years and I thank you for it! Also, you satisfy my quirky curiosity. I hoe you never stop!

[@emmabaylis4144]

What a wholesome group of people with good sense of humor!

[@nazufani]

Absolutely love this story. I have my hair, my daughter's & both grand son's hair tucked away & now I know the history. They loved the person who passed.......not morbid......just love......memories. 👍 🌻

[@applegal3058]

Make sure you label and secure each piece so future generations will be able to put a name, date and background to each piece. I opened up a photo album page to remove an old baby picture of myself once, only to be covered in all this blond hair. Took me a minute to figure out what it was and where it was con from. It was my baby hair from 41 years ago!

[@applegal3058]

Also, be ok with future generations not caring about it and tossing it. I hold onto so many items for my family, but once I'm dead and gone, there is no one else who will appreciate those items and may just well end up in the dump or being sold. And that's ok. The meaning we attribute to items aren't necessarily important to everyone else, and everything eventually will rot or get tossed out.

[@cloudninetherapeutics7787]

Great to see ya, Mike! I have missed you so much. Looking forward to seeing more. Great work, loved it.

[@1993ka24det]

Mike no matter what you do, you always seem like your having fun ;-)

[@chiguy_]

that is cool.. and I bet one could do a gene test now to prove all of the pieces she has to be who they say they are. plus might be able to answer lots of questions from people who might be looking to see where they came from. and mike as always you are truly one of a kind. cheers to all of the crew who went with it and added on to this interesting museum. cheers.

[@watcher1245]

What an amazing lady. She really lights up the entire episode. Mike and the crew being weird just gives it a family vibe that most of us wish we had in our every day jobs.

[@marcianorris6147]

What a wonderful 13:11 minutes spent with Mike and his team. Thank You.

[@monkeybarmonkeyman]

Okay... 12:00 she knocks one out of the park! Great video, Mike. Compliments to everyone.

[@HulaHula667]

Have now started myself a list of places I would love to visit - and this amazing museum is currently top of the list, should I ever manage to make it over to the USA from old Blighty. Wonderful episode Mike

[@tkilg7169]

It's an extraordinary gift to have. The ability to make people comfortable and turn them into forever friends, while at the same time poking fun in a very non-malicious manner. Mr. Rowe is one of the most talented individuals with a personality that, I think everyone would like to have.

[@Ribcrickett]

Love this video. Mrs. Leila is precious and full of knowledge. Funny too.

[@jenacollins8580]

this was fascinating!!! I had no idea this was how they stored genealogy reports back in the day!

[@Mr6f00t]

Mike I freaking love you man. Been watching you since I was a kid and it never gets old

[@seane.8369]

Such an interesting idea, I had no they did genealogy like this in the past! And what a beautiful smile Leila has, such a wonderful woman.

[@fritz1990]

I thought people had forgotten about this. Interesting to see it's still around.

[@jbsjunk1260]

I've seen these in small museum in Virginia. At one time in the USA, giving someone a lock of hair was considered a great gift from one family to another.

[@ruffsnap]

It's genuinely pleasant to actually see the camera crew a lot throughout this series. I really wish that was more normal in shows like these that are just informational and not dramatic or anything. Us as an audience LOVE that peek behind the curtain, and it's odd to me that more directors of shows don't understand that.

[@miller4980]

That's amazing. I love history even more now, and I've got to learn about this. As always, much love for all you folks do.

[@conorbaird9409]

Great episode. What a interesting and charming woman.

[@toxic.forest]

Hair mourning pieces are so so beautiful. And worth a lot to collectors nowadays!

[@SecretSquirrelDunDun]

I agree this is one of the best episodes!

[@jonesba2004]

These two have amazing chemistry!!!!!!

[@cssml8207]

She's absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this!

[@patriciag571]

I didn't realized how much I missed your voice on my TV until I just found your channel.

[@sdfsdf2205]

Thank you Mike for reuploading this series for us

[@susanvalyi9849]

Another great video. Who would have thunk. A hair museum. My grandmother had a necklace made of her hair. It’s a bit creepy no?

[@fayekeller7411]

Watching now and I can't wait to hear all the details

[@john1182]

100 % i did not expect this and thank you to the executives the OKed this shoot, its random as heck but super interesting no pun intended truly a one of a kind. please do as many of these kind of things as you can, I love unique history.

[@YasuTaniina]

This is actually pretty awesome. If I lived anywhere near there I'd visit in a heartbeat. My family is crazy about family history. My grandma did family history for nearly 70 years, well into her 90's and she kept up with the technology too

[@mikemorse3519]

Nobody's better than Mike Rowe!

[@compactgirl]

This is so beautiful, before my father passed I took a lock of his hair and I have it in a frame with his photo.

[@helenedwards9304]

What a GREAT lady and museum. I would love to meet her and see her work! Thank you

[@christyemmons7279]

So Cool ❤ I can learn something new from your jobs & travels every time Thanks!!

[@jacobsims5848]

What an incredible lady. I hope that one day I can have such an illogical devotion

[@heatheryarbrough5255]

Fantastic episode. Really loved it, thanks.

[@jackwalsh1468]

Hey Mikey! I liked it, I liked the video a lot! Mikey you're a master at handing a "Hairy Situation" a very close 2nd to "Leila". Cheers, Mate.

[@jacquelinetaylor6527]

Simply amazing. Love this.