Facial Hair Friday: From Baseball to War

This Facial Hair Friday photo shows baseball-player-turned-Coast Guardsman Frank L. Lailer sporting a respectable amount of facial hair, albeit not quite as much as some of his bushier-bearded Coast Guard colleagues. His is just one of the many beards and mustaches featured in a series of Coast Guardsmen at Work in the Records of the … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: From Baseball to War

Facial Hair Friday: G. Gordon Liddy, White House Plumber

Today’s post comes from Alyssa Manfredi at the National Archives History Office. George Gordon Liddy played an infamous role in the Watergate scandal. He and a team were behind the attempted break-in to the Democratic National Convention office, which inadvertently led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon. Liddy became one of the few people … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: G. Gordon Liddy, White House Plumber

Facial Hair Friday: Herman Melville

Today’s post comes from Alyssa Manfredi at the National Archives History Office. Herman Melville is still revered today as one of the great American writers. Over his career, Melville wrote 17 short stories, 11 novels, and countless essays and poems.  Herman Melville. (National Archives Identifier 209202332) Melville was born in New York City in 1819, … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Herman Melville

Facial Hair Friday: Tennessee Williams

In honor of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride month, we are celebrating openly gay playwright Tennessee Williams—as well as his excellently styled mustache! Today’s Facial Hair Friday comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. Tennessee Williams, 1948. (National Archives Identifier 276537817) Tennessee … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Tennessee Williams

Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?

The subject of today’s Facial Hair Friday is the longtime and beloved host of the trivia game show Jeopardy!—Alex Trebek. In 2001 he shocked his viewers by shaving off the mustache he wore for his first 17 years on the show. While Alex Trebek is most known for hosting the award-winning trivia show Jeopardy!, he … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Who is Alex Trebek?

Facial Hair Friday: The Original Adlai E. Stevenson

When most people hear the name Adlai E. Stevenson, they may first think of Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900–1965), the Governor of Illinois, two-time candidate for President of the United States, and ambassador to the United Nations. They may also think of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930–2021), Senator from Illinois from 1970 to 1981, and … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: The Original Adlai E. Stevenson

Facial Hair Friday: Carlton Chapman and the Ultimate Sacrifice

Carlton Chapman was born in Pembroke, a small town in Southwestern Virginia, in 1912. He was working for the Norfolk and Western Railway when the United States entered World War II. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a machine gunner with the 761st Tank Battalion. "Cpl. Carlton Chapman...is a machine-gunner … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Carlton Chapman and the Ultimate Sacrifice

Facial Hair Friday: Bushy Beard and Shark’s Teeth

In this Facial Hair Friday photo, Coast Guardsman Kent C. Pompella displays both a bushy beard and shark teeth earrings. His is just one of the many beards featured in a series of Coast Guardsmen at Work in the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard that have been digitized and made available in the National … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Bushy Beard and Shark’s Teeth

Facial Hair Friday: Fidel Castro

Famous for his long and bushy beard he grew during his time as a guerrilla rebel fighter, Fidel Castro’s beard became a badge of honor and later a symbol of the triumph of the revolution. Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office. Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and Cuban Prime Minister … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Fidel Castro

Facial Hair Friday: Thad Page, First Administrative Secretary for the National Archives

To celebrate American Archives Month, today's Facial Hair Friday looks at the National Archives' first Administrative Secretary: Thad Page. Thad Page, 9/1/1951. (National Archives Identifier 12167532) Thaddeus “Thad” Shaw Page was born in 1890 in Aberdeen, NC, to a prominent North Carolina family. After attending the University of North Carolina, Page served as secretary to … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Thad Page, First Administrative Secretary for the National Archives