Yee haw! A History of the Cowboy Hat

[@jimmymac4559]

John B. Stetson was my Great Great Grandfather. I’m very proud to be his descendant. He was a good and generous man.

[@hathistorianjc]

Nice! A lineage to be proud of.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Wow!

[@1boortzfan]

I've been through Deland,FL many times. The university he built there is a beauty to behold.

[@franksmith7247]

That's wonderful. Growing up in Philly, we often played against the Stetson school. ( Now a charter school, but I think it was a junior high when we played in the 70's) If I'm not mistaken, the giant building in which the Stetson hats were manufactured is still standing--although, with all the development in the city, it could have been demolished in recent years.

[@maraland4628]

Jimmy, I recently found him in my family tree as well. So, Howdy Cousin!

[@astrotrek3534]

Never wore anything other than a baseball cap till I moved to California. It's a dry heat, but so is an oven, and the sun just feels inescapable. Bought a cowboy/outback hat and have loved it ever since. As silly as they can look, the cowboy hat is a wonderfully practical thing, and a great piece of Americana. Great video!

[@edi9892]

I wore these caps for a long time, but when working, hiking, or when it's really hot, they get soaked like crazy. I improvised a turban on a hike and it was a difference like night and day! Later, I purchased a straw hat. It's the best for hot days. No question.

[@joshjones6072]

I grew up wearing a cowboy hat in California, all my family did, because we'd be out hunting or fishing, and riding horses tending our cattle ranches. Sun or rain it's useful. A nice clean one for in town.

[@tucobakunin8250]

As a Texan, I've taken it even one step further; an enormous straw sombrero. They allow the top of the head to breathe through good ventilation and provide shade to face, neck, and shoulders, as well as the upper chest and back. Most have an adjustable chin strap, which is important with such a large brimmed hat on windy days. You just have to accept the fact that you are 'that guy' now. You know, that guy who wears a sombrero.😅

[@barryluft4451]

Sorry Buddy... doesn't look silly to this Canadian cowboy

[@barryluft4451]

Actually, someone asked me once if I was a cowboy. I said "Well... i have owned cows and horses."

[@myurgil]

I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a Frenchman attempt an American West accent. I love these videos - keep them coming!

[@amesbancal]

Actually his mother is American...

[@machoprotegido5607]

I live in central Mexico. I wear a cowboy hat every day.

[@nev707]

Australia has a couple of companies that make excellent hats of all shapes and sizes.

[@hathistorianjc]

I have an Akubra.

[@michaelhandley5116]

don't tell albo.

[@frankmenchaca9993]

I've seen highway construction crews with a hard hat imitations of cowboy hat

[@originalmroldschool]

OMG! He's wearing a Malcolm Reynolds jacket in his western costume! Nicely done sir!

[@skyden24195]

Throughout most of the year 2011 I was living in Madera, CA (county & city just north of Fresno County & City.) Being an area located in California's central agricultural "bowl," I ended up working part-time as a ranch-hand. Being that I was, more or less, considered a "city boy," I was often given grief, by the local population, of my country/farm/ranch-working inexperience. Eventually though, the man I did the most work for would acknowledge my eventual acquired knowledge and ability to work as a proficient ranch-hand by gifting me with a brand-new Stetson, white-straw, "cowboy" hat.

[@brettcole5167]

I've lived in Texas and Oklahoma most of my life. I don't use them as a fashion statement, but a straw cowboy had is very useful in the hot sun. A canvas one is good for the rain. For cold rainy days, you can wear a bandana under it.

[@martinkealey4105]

I never thought I would find learning about hats so interesting and fun.

[@spaghettiking7312]

The Stetson is like the less-formal descendant of the Spanish Cordobes hat as the baseball cap is the casual child of the flat cap.

[@thomasbeach905]

In rodeos up here in northern Michigan, few would wear an expensive Stetson in the “ring”, but would wear a Resistol cowboy hat as they cost less and can take a lot of punishment.

[@jonathanvermillion7263]

I just bought a Gus Stetson 6x and was feeling a bit disengenuous because I’m not a cowboy. I love our country and this hat is a symbol of American values and now I will wear it with pride

[@dhp4073]

Yes sir, wear it and wear it good.

[@justayoutuber1906]

A symbol of American values? Dude, you watch too many Westerns

[@stevenhoskins7850]

You don't have to be a cowboy to wear the hat. Wear it with pride. It's a classic. I have 6 of them, and a floppy Australian Outback hat to wear with shorts.

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Un régal, une fois de plus ! C'est vrai que ce couvre-chef est iconique. A tel point d'ailleurs que, quand des amies texanes de mon épouse sont venues nous voir en France il y a deux ans et qu'elles m'ont demandé ce qu'elles pouvaient m'apporter qui me ferait plaisir, la réponse a été immédiate : grand fan de westerns devant l'éternel (mais les vieux, hein, ceux de John Ford, Howard Hawks, Henry Hathaway ou Anthony Mann, ou ceux de Sergio Leone, pas ceux d'aujourd'hui), je rêvais d'un vrai boss of the plains. Ça les a un peu étonné, mais elles m'en ont quand même apporté un, un magnifique chapeau (de chez Stetson, bien sûr) superbement emballé dans son carton enrubanné à l'ancienne et agrémenté d'une majestueuse plume d'aigle... Je n'imaginais pas à quel point ce genre de chapeau pouvait être grand et surtout rigide par rapport aux fedoras en feutre que je porte régulièrement en hiver. Pour tout dire, ce genre de chapeau est tellement marqué qu'il est quasiment impossible à porter en Europe, mais quelle splendeur ! Et merci aussi d'avoir souligné que le vrai chapeau qui a fait la conquête de l'ouest, c'est surtout le melon même s'il est beaucoup moins majestueux.... Mais franchement, vous imaginez John Wayne, Gary Cooper ou Clint Eastwood défourailler avec un melon sur la tête ? 😂

[@resolute123]

In the US Army, Cavalry units (either ground or air) wear black Stetsons for formal and ceremonial events. As made popular to the world in the movie "Apocalypse Now" with the character LTC "Bill" Kilgore of the Air Cav. As reference to the image of a the cowboy giving water to his horse with his hat, when a Cav Trooper earns his spurs either in combat or a spur ride (an initiation event for new troopers), a soldier may wear a Stetson but after it is broken in. Story goes that when the rider would give water to a horse with his hat, the dyes in the fabric would give the horse (pardon my crudeness) the shits. So they would have to break in their hats with water to get ride of the dye. In the US Cav, a new trooper breaks in his Stetson with a concoction of booze, oil, sand, tabasco, or whatever imaginative ingredients their Spur Holder (one who earned their spurs and their senior) and is expected to drink it down.

[@hathistorianjc]

Interesting

[@thomasbeach905]

My unit in Afghanistan, 2012, had some cav members and yes, they brought their cav hats with them.

[@MarcillaSmith]

In US film culture, the "black hat" is used to signal who is the "bad guy."

[@songperformer_NET]

A very practical hat to keep the rain and sun off, around town, I wear a flat cap, but have a cowboy for outdoors hillwalking, which get some looks in southern EWngland

[@carmenromo013]

For Mexicans that's a norteño hat. A hat used in the north of México where the sun is not so strong all year round. It is more practical when working with animals because is lighter and easier to keep an eye all around. 😊

[@BlueJerry2]

I don't know what brought me here, but I'm glad I am

[@Snootyboss]

I'm really enjoying working through your videos. Well made, informative and also made me buy a flat cap.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Honestly, one of the best videos going over the hat’s history! Showing how it was the combination of multiple items and cultures bumping into one another to form something truly unique!

[@gordonhaire9206]

Don't forget the influence 1980s movie "Urban Cowboy" had on western wear. The cowboy craze didn't last long, and for years afterward I could buy nearly new hats and boots at resale shops.

[@jonathanvermillion7263]

I now love cowboy hats

[@marvwatkins7029]

That map at the beginning is inaccurate: Illinois,Wisconsin, Minnesota mostly unlikely. Nevada and West Coast states do wear cowboy hats in rural areas in their eastern ranch country and are excluded.

[@roidragecow]

IT FINALLY CAME I CAN QUIT BOTHERING YOU ABOUT IT! Another excellent video as always, can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

[@hathistorianjc]

Hahaha, I hope it was worth the wait. I told you I was going to make one ;)

[@rogergadley9965]

I grew up on a cattle ranch in central Washington state in the 1950s and 60s. My first jobs were in the saddle, herding cattle, riding fence (repairing fences) and so on. I wore a cowboy hat, and frankly they were so common we didn’t even call them “cowboy” hats. They were just called “hats.” Any other kind of hat, a pork pie hat, a fedora, a beanie or (shudder) a beret wad a descriptive name (I.e. pork pie, fedora, newsboy, etc.). I only knew of a few people who had Stetson hats. Most people I knew got their hats from the feed store or J.C. Penney’s. Our small town didn’t have a real haberdasher, but the local clothing store sold Stetsons and Stetsons were too expensive for most of us to buy. These days I mostly wear flat caps. I’m partial to Harris tweed or linen flat caps. Cowboy hats take up too much room.

[@charlescourtney4402]

I've been waiting for you to do an episode on the cowboy hat. Thank you!

[@hathistorianjc]

Someone's been asking for one for months (and I've been hoping they believed me when I said it was coming), was that you?

[@charlescourtney4402]

I did request it once. I'm glad you made an episode on it and I look forward to your future ones.

[@filipetaliba]

Moi aussi j'avais demandé deux fois!! Merci beaucoup !! P.S.: les chapeaux sont tous des feutre ou aussi en cuir ?

[@ChatarraCrow]

I have a black felt Bailey's that I wear mostly in the coldest or snowiest weather. In the sunnier time of the year I have a straw hat that gets the most use. I wear glasses and have an abysmal time trying to find sunglass clip ons or covers, so my straw hat is a lifesaver.

[@larry648]

Spend a few hours out on a tractor without a cab and the sun will beat you up. A ball cap just doesn’t cut it. When I’m working my property I have a cowboy hat on.

[@stevetrevino5346]

Bought a fawn colored open road Stetson , and had it shaped like a western style hat, and it's perfect. I don't think I look particularly good in a hat, but I have gotten compliments on it.

[@Casey_Jones]

The day before this video dropped saw one in a fairly fancy restaurant in Oregon, (North West USA), they're everywhere

[@trojanthedog]

These hats are big deal in country Australia. Men, small children and their mothers all sport them. Would like to hear your take on the military slouch hat made most famous by the ANZACs.

[@herongael4602]

Chaque fois un super moment, plein de finesse, culture et humour Bravo et merci

[@titanscerw]

Is there any video on my favourite - namely Boer/Afrikaaner Bush/Safari Hat

[@dennisatkins9837]

Great video. I have always loved the cowboy hat and I sport one while mowing my yard. I’m in a small town in Tennessee which has a hat maker. I can’t afford one of those.

[@robnewman6101]

Badges of the Office. Federal Marshal. Sheriff. Deputy. Police.

[@almeronfilms]

Wonderful lecture on hats. Watched many of these! Thank you!

[@julienfarbos]

Vos vidéos sont toujours très instructives et drôles. J’aimerait bien connaître l’histoire du tam écossais...

[@neilwilson5785]

Your channel is underappreciated, but I love it, so I tip my hat to you, sir!

[@eikki039]

In Uruguay and Argentina, the "Gauchos" use a variety of the "sombrero" that spanish settler used to wear (See paiting shown at 2:21), this kind of hats is still used to this day by people of this two countries (as well at the south of Brasil and some parts of Chile) as part of they culture.

[@JLxavyo]

In all over Latin America these are popular

[@300AMGHOST]

Very informative thank you

[@Dr.K.Wette_BE]

Gallon, tressage, galon comme le ruban brodé utilisé dans le textile ? C'est étymologiquement très intéressant ça. Chapeau !

[@seekerplays]

Yay! New upload :D

[@QV1010]

I would love if you cover the Vietnamese non la or something similar like the Japanese kasa. I wear non la when doing yard work or mowing the lawn.

[@hathistorianjc]

It's planned!

[@2292fa]

Excellent and informative video! Thank you

[@ericmcfarlin4272]

Own two Stetsons and plan on getting a Montana peaks hat soon

[@supergillou6596]

Very interesting and funny with you South accent. I have a true Stetson, i like wearing it in rainy weather. Naturally it gives style.

[@jorgec2233]

I enjoyed your video sir and just wanted to say thank you

[@station7thedoor]

Great video! Very glad you pointed out the wide brimmed slouch hats of the American Civil War. I recently got my first bowler, and was reading about how it is supposedly the "real" cowboy hat, that the Boss of the Plains did not become widespread until near the end of the era of the Old West... but when I looked up vintage photographs of real people from that era, most of them are wearing some variation of a wide brimmed felt hat, not a bowler or a sombrero. So it seems to me that, at least in the field, something that approximated the look of a cowboy hat was indeed in general use. My theory is that these hats are indeed slouch hats left over from the Civil War. What are your thoughts? Maybe you could do a video on the slouch hat, and show us how it differs from what eventually became the cowboy hat that is recognized today.

[@apollo8447]

Another great episode

[@fritzfromsouth5935]

In southeastern Brazil the caipira population (which would be equivalent to the hillbillies in the US) had their own traditional hat which had a wide brim which was the "tropeiro hat" and the straw hat (that spread throughout the rest of the country, becoming traditional mainly on the Party of St John), however, with the industrialization of the big cities, the population practicing the rural exodus ended up forgetting their cultural roots, and the cowboy hat replaced their old clothing, becoming too western, and spread it to the rest of the country, as beautiful as it is, it is sad to see how it has replaced many cultural garments around the world, especially in places that had great contact with American culture.

[@sirfox950]

Well, confederates used cowboy hats probably because they (or their government) couldn't afford kepis for everyone.

[@issintf925]

It was less of the price of the kepi and more of the practicality of the slouch hat. This is why you can find pictures of wealthy officers forgoing the kepi

[@sirfox950]

@@issintf925 that's true enough. Though I've also heard that pre-war fashion and a will to appear closer to the men by emulating their style played a factor.

[@Kernfederate]

I'll throw out that a big reason bowler, derby, and boater hats were popular was how they were more resistant to blowing off while riding. Cowboy hats tend to be more difficult to keep on your head in gusty weather, especially straw hats. I have a Resistol brick-crown straw hat I wear during the summer, (Straw is worn from the end of May to Labor Day, as the saying goes), and a Stetson cattleman crease felt hat in the winter. The Stetson stays on my head alright in high wind, but I have to chase the Resistol down every few weeks. I definitely tend to favor a cap when it gets gusty. 🤣

[@johnortmann3098]

That's why the "stampede string" was adopted.

[@Kernfederate]

@@johnortmann3098 Exactly!

[@johnortmann3098]

What with one thing an another, one doesn't get involved in many stampedes nowadays.@@Kernfederate

[@Kernfederate]

@@johnortmann3098 True haha. Truthfully I don't care for the look of a stampede string, bit too Coca Cola Cowboy-ish in my opinion, but the thought of installing one has crossed my mind often haha.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

​@@KernfederateCoca Cola cowboyish is those super cranked up affairs with feather duster hat bands. A real cowboy would spend up to 12 hours in the saddle regardless of conditions, and had just one hat. So stampede strings were a must, even if you had to poke holes in the brim. It may not have held the hat on, but you wouldn't lose it 100 miles from town. When your hat is also your shelter from the elements that's the last thing you want to have happen.

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I wear a 'cowboy' hat often, and especially when I am out in the sun, with a white straw hat, which is great for fishing, and keeping the sun off your face and neck, and in formal occasions with a black felt hat.

[@globyois]

Great video, thanks.

[@edi9892]

Where does a broad brimmed Fedora end and where does a cowboy hat begin?

[@kastandlee]

When I traveled to Australia in 2011, I found that their take on the same style of hat, as made by Jacaru Australia, suited me more than those from my home country, the USA -- enough so that I ended up buying more of them. Recently, someone actually realized that I wasn't wearing an American cowboy hat and said, "Crocodile Dundee, right?" Well, I wasn't trying to emulate Paul Hogan, but northern Nevada, where I live, is very sunny and quite hot in the summer, and despite the desert climate, it can both rain and even snow here, so this hat works well for me, especially as I'm bald on top and sun-sensitive to boot. When I visited my father after not seeing him for many years, he was so taken with my Jacaru hat that he asked if I had a spare, which it so happened that I had, and I sent him one for Father's Day.

[@noddingdogwilliam6097]

Great research. Great delivery, entertaining and educational. Really enjoying your work. Mucking Refarkable I say ! Cheers from Australia.

[@marshabaker6153]

That was a really interesting video! I thought there was more to the design of it--i.e. the curved up sides. Thought it was more for directing rain rather than it just falling off the brim wherever. Thanks Again. I love the Stetson!

[@myevilplans]

Not America, it's 'Merica..we damn proud of "our hat". 🤠

[@chipcurry]

Do you have delivered a first class presentation. From a one time Arizona cowboy.

[@reachvictoria3386]

Excellent video.

[@stevenr5534]

I've heard people describe Akubra as the "Stetson of Australia." This is apparently quite true. According to one source Akubra has had the license to manufacture Stetsons" in Australia since the 1970s.

[@archivist17]

Ther could be an episode in the story of Australian hats

[@doggod07]

And it should be noted that the Slouch Hat pinned on one side is iconic to the Australian Army for over 100 years.

[@akm5779]

I am wearing it as an umbrella on rainy days... in Lebanon (made in Australia for B.C. Canada)

[@luciledebethune3748]

Je suis une tres grande fan de chapeau ( a tel point que je commence a en creer, je travaille sur mon premier fedora la)donc je me regale avec ces videos :) Elles sont vraiment completes, avec plein d'infos super :)

[@JorgeCarlosGómez-r9n]

I live in cowboy hat country, the Texas-Mexico border, yet it is rare south or the Rio Grande, mostly only musicians working on the weekend wear it, as they still dress in matching outfits. Keep it put 'partner'.

[@johnsteele7201]

as usual, a superb combination of facts and critique. keep these videos coming, please. (one suggestion: when discussing what you call the "lemon squeezer," you might mention the "campaign hat," and include the iconic Smokey Bear.)

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

I have a late 1800s Stetson hat. It is a bowler style!

[@karrde5566]

im personally trying to bring back the tricorne!

[@charlesjackson3579]

I always suspected that the tricorn evolved into the cowboy.

[@christopherlyons5900]

My favorite use of this hat is in the early William S. Hart silent film, Hell's HInges, where his character, Blaze Trace, a prototypical western gunfighter and all-round tough hombre, who follows no flag, comes to a wild western town, wearing a black Stetson. He falls for the minister's sister, starts fighting for civilization and good behavior (but still taking the law into his own hands, naturally) and all of a sudden--with no explanation--his Stetson is white. This may be where the trope of 'black hat' and 'white hat' originated in the western genre. We are given to understand that his hat somehow sensed Blaze's change of character, and accordingly changed hue, like a mood ring. :)

[@awkirkness]

This dude know his hats lads

[@MJ-we9vu]

Nice hat, Pilgrim.

[@Kytetiger]

super intéressant !

[@Trey_816]

Cool hat, but I'll stick with my tricorn (okay, says the one who is wearing a Brodie Mk2 in his profile picture).

[@ergonautilus]

3:16 - Bowler looks like the hat that Marty McFly’s great great grandfather gave him in Back to the Future Part III.

[@davidbowman2716]

The lemon squeezer is called in Mexico "Sombrero de cuatro pedradas".

[@josephlogan6088]

You do a country accent better than Nicolas Cage at least. Your channel is awesome! Thank you.

[@soothingmeow22]

That border needs to push further to the left. It's very common on the West Coast. Most of it is very rural, and it's common to see cowboy hats

[@rudithedog7534]

With Stetsons its the hat that wares the man.

[@SebastiandR81]

Video idea: the history of the European student caps, for example the caps still worn by German Studentenverbindungen. Love your videos!

[@richardgrant418]

I’ve watched videos by literally hundreds of presenters The depth of your research, the images - and especially the superb scripts … You are the best of ANY Much appreciated May I ask - did you excel at essays in English?

[@hathistorianjc]

I'm flattered! I was considered not bad at creative writing in French (did my schooling in France until the end of High School), and my professors in college seemed to be happy with my writing

[@richardgrant418]

@@hathistorianjc you are too modest :)

[@saxman7131]

Always tip your hat with your left hand so you can still shake hands with your right hand.

[@Philobiblion]

I think you should devote equal time to the rancher hat. the Stetson Open Road . It's the LBJ hat. I have a collection of them and wear them on the street.

[@ERJones-fd6oh]

Yeeeeee haw

[@T.J-and-Soul]

Have you done the Australian Akubra?

[@cheebawobanu]

I prefer my Resistols. I do own a Stetson.

[@boomr334]

Oh boy this is good history Im from Africa so have no connection with most of what you mention but enjoy the walk into a deep and interesting part of life but do a boer war hat if possible those things looked grim

[@SewolHoONCE]

Music addendum 1: specific mention in song: WATERBOY - I’m headed into town; now what you want brought back? A double pint . . . and a J. B. Stetson hat.

[@jmuraidajr]

We wear them here in Arizona but with all of California moving here it starting to be baseball caps!

[@angelo1064]

About time lol. I love cowboy hats, and I love your videos!

[@ronaldfazekas6492]

Many years ago, I visited my sister who had moved to Denver--before leaving, I bought a Stetson from the factory then located nearby in Danbury, CT--while waiting for a train in Denver, my beloved hat was stolen from atop my luggage--as a friend opined--if I wasn't wearing a Stetson in Denver, I DESERVED to have it stolen

[@thedreadtyger]

Like Lucky Luke, but with more class. And better luck! You have earned my subscription, Sir.

[@gamboolman]

Enjoy your channel very much ! Please see can you improve audio clarity

[@KaosNoKamisama]

You should take a look at the "chupalla"; the traditional low-crown-wide-brimmed hat of the Chilean "Huaso".

[@ailo4x4]

It is also still the dress uniform cover (mil speak for hat!) of US armored and air cavalry regiments. Think of Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now.

[@tessat338]

According to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Book, "By The Shores of Silver Lake," ( published 1939) tuberculosis patients used to be advised by doctors to come out to the Territories for the "Prairie Cure." It was thought that the fresh air was better for people with "consumption" than was the crowded city air. There was some validity in the notion. First of all, with fewer infected people around, the bacterial load of the general population was probably lower so a sufferer wasn't constantly getting reexposed and reinfected. Fresh, uncontaminated water was certainly more healthy than contaminated wells and water sources. Uninfected milk from uninfected cattle plus fresh vegetables in the diet were probably also helpful to allow the body to fight off the bacteria. However, without the help of antibiotics, a total cure was no guarantee.

[@carloshenriquezimmer7543]

I heard that some people went out west after having beying diagnosed with TB, because they would dye anyways, so let us make something out of it... even some doctors were fond of the idea. (unsubstanciated claim from the last pages of a montly "spaguetti western" comic, titled "Tex Willer") Also drier and hotter climates would help the lungs drain of mucus and other secretions, improving quality of life.

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

Is there fundamentally any major difference between a wide brimmed fedora and a open crowned cowboy had if you crease it the same way?

[@robertneven7563]

I like my Serratteli hat I purchases in Canada

[@lensperspective9753]

The best style for working hard is a Vaquero style brim and pinch made of 100% Mexican palm

[@parrotraiser6541]

The Tilley hat is close to the cowboy in shape and function, though much more recently invented.