Today in History - May 5 - John B. Stetson

Born on May 5, 1830 in Orange, New Jersey, John B. Stetson started work in his father’s hat-making shop. After learning the trade, Stetson set up his own hat business in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, Stetson became ill with tuberculosis. A popular treatment for tuberculosis patients at the time was to live in a dry climate. Stetson followed this medical advice, and moved West. While in the Colorado Rockies during the Gold Rush, Stetson learned that the hats men wore provided inadequate protection from the elements. Stetson designed a hat better-suited for work out West: its wide brim shielded its wearer’s face from the sun and rain and its high crown cooled its wearer’s head. Stetson named this hat the “Boss of the Plains.” In 1865, Stetson moved back to Philadelphia and established his own hat-making business. Stetson mailed sample hats to Western merchants, who quickly submitted large orders for this hat. His “Boss of the Plains” hat became popular out West and was dubbed the “Stetson hat”. Famous wearers of Stetson hats include Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley. With the rising sales of Stetson hats, Stetson founded the largest hat factory in the world. Concerned about workers’ safety and health, Stetson built a fireproof, well-ventilated factory that had ample natural light. Stetson also built a hospital that provided free and reduced cost healthcare for his employees. A devout Baptist, Stetson made large donations to a struggling Baptist college in Florida, the DeLand Academy, which was renamed John B. Stetson University. John B. Stetson died on February 18, 1906 in DeLand, Florida.