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

Facial Hair Friday: Charlie Chaplin

Today’s Facial Hair Friday post comes from Callie Belback in the National Archives History Office. It's on Charlie Chaplin, who, while in character, wore one of the more iconic fake mustaches in history. Charlie Chaplin poster. (National Archives Identifier 88693638) In 1972, five years before his death, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Charlie Chaplin

Facial Hair Friday: Salvador Dalí

Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office and features the man with on of the most iconic mustaches in history: Salvador Dalí. Salvador Dalí is renowned for his influential Surrealist art, most famously his oil on canvas The Persistence of Memory, now at the Museum of Modern Art in New … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Salvador Dalí

Facial Hair Friday: Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag

This June the National Archives is celebrating National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, which honors the important contributions that LGBTQ+ Americans have made to United States history and culture. Visit the National Archives website for more information on our related holdings. Today’s post looks at the man who created the iconic gay … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag

Facial Hair Friday: George H. Pendleton

May 1–7, 2022, is Public Service Recognition Week, which honors the individuals who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees. Today’s Facial Hair Friday looks at the man who sponsored legislation establishing a merit-based system for hiring federal employees: Senator George Hunt Pendleton. George H. Pendleton. (National Archives Identifier 167250250) Although President George Washington … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: George H. Pendleton

Facial Hair Friday: Edward Miner Gallaudet

Today’s Facial Hair Friday looks at the first president of what would become Gallaudet University in Washington DC: Edward Miner Gallaudet. It features photographs from the Mathew Brady collection at the National Archives. Edward Miner Gallaudet was born on February 5, 1837, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the youngest of eight children. His father, Reverend … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Edward Miner Gallaudet

Facial Hair Friday: the Mustache Spoon

Since the origin of our nation, women inventors have contributed innovations large and small to our society. For Women's History Month, today's Facial Hair Friday post features a very specialized invention developed by a woman for use by men. Before modern-day hipsters donned their flamboyant facial hair, large, extravagant mustaches were all the rage in … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: the Mustache Spoon