Box, Hat

Notes: Margaret Wayte: 1922-2000 / nee Brandrith, Margaret is 3rd generation of the Brandriths, Delta Pioneer family. The hat box became a popular item in the 19th century – matching the popularity of hats for both day and evening wear – and accessories were produced to assist with both storage and cleaning. ------- Regarding the brand name: Stetson is a brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company. John B. Stetson's inspiration for his most famous hats was gained when headed west from his native New Jersey for health reasons. On his return east in 1865 he founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia and created a hat that has become symbolic of the pioneering American West, the “Boss of the Plains”. This Western hat would become the cornerstone of Stetson's hat business and is still in production today. Stetson eventually became the world's largest hat maker, producing more than 3,300,000 hats a year in a factory spread over 9 acres (36,000 m2) in Philadelphia. In addition to its Western and fashion hats, Stetson also produces fragrance, apparel, footwear, eyewear, belts, bourbon and a range of other products evoking the historic American West (wikipedia).