Hat, Top

Object Name:

Hat, Top

Object ID:

2016.048

Creator:

Smith, Greeley & CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Claremont, NH

Date:

circa 1850

Description:

A. Top hat. Originally owned by John P. Chellis (1812-1888) of Meriden, NH. Manufactured by Smith, Greeley & Company, Claremont, NH, c. 1850. Light brown beaver skin, with cardboard lining, leather sweatband, and silk tape band around bottom and edge of brim. Embossed gold-printed paper label attached to inside, top of hat: "EXCELSIOR / MANUFACTURERS / Smith, Greeley & Co. / CLAREMONT, N.H.", with eagle and floral scrolls. "J. P. Chellis / Meriden, N.H." written in pencil on interior side. "A. B. Chellis" written in ink on paper label attached on interior back.

B. Original oval brown cardboard box with removable cover. 10" high x 13.5" long x 12.75" wide.

C. Box cover. "A. B. Chellis" written in ink on paper label adhered over label on top of cover.

Material:

Textile
Beaver
Leather
Cardboard
Paper

Dimensions:

H-7.5 W-11.25 L-11.25 inches

Provenance:

The hat was originally owned and worn by John Pettengill Chellis (1812-1888) of Meriden, NH. Subsequent labels suggest that it was next owned and used by his son, Alvah B. Chellis (1841-1915). According to oral tradition, this hat was worn by John P. Chellis while attending as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Plainfield in 1857 and 1858 and as a member of the New Hampshire State Senate in 1858 and 1859. John P. Chellis taught school in Plainfield early in his life, finally becoming a farmer. He served Grantham and Plainfield as a selectman, town treasurer, and town clerk, as well as sheriff of Sullivan County (1861-1871). The hat, box, and photograph were acquired by the donor's late father, Howard Zea, of Meriden, NH.

Gift includes albumen cabinet card half-length photographic print of John P. Chellis, by C. E. Lewis, Lebanon, NH, 1888.

Credit Line:

Gift of Philip Zea

People:

Chellis, John P. (1812-1888)

Subjects:

Top hats