Facial

[Bicksler]

Good Evening to the members of this board. I am looking into doing a Black Hawk War persona and was wondering what the standard for facial hair and an acceptable hair style would be for 1832? Also, could I get some references for documentation? I have really enjoyed your threads here and was hoping you guys could help out. Thank you for your help.
Michael Bicksler

[DJ Palama]

I am, by no means an expert of 1830s facial hair.... I would suggest maybe looking at period litographs. I believe that maybe mutton chops were around. It would largley depended on personal tastes of the time. As well, it would depend on what type of impression you were looking to do.

[Bicksler]

I have been trying to find some lithographs but have been hitting some walls. I am trying to protray a militiaman/lead miner. I read some where about the miners only shaving once a week and something about unkept or uncut hair? How long of hair? I like to be as accurate with the shaving and hair length

[Robert Braun]

You are right--- lithographs and woodcuts would be among the most reasonable place to start, but they are few and far between for this period. Some may be found in the 1832 account of the Hall massacre, and in a monograph on the "Stillman's Run" fight... both are in searchable indexes on the NIU website.

As a rule, most men in Jacksonian America were clean-shaven. Accompanying this was the occasional wearing of side whiskers that extended to below the ear. The image of Major Stillman below shows what I mean.



Of course, men travelling outside the boundaries of so-called "Polite Society" or keeping "bachelor's hall" had less interest in keeping up with societal influence when it came to grooming. In certain instances, facial hair and bears were seen. However, the trimmed and goomed beard would have IMHO been generally out of place in the Mineral District in 1832. This is not to say that diggers weren't seen with a scraggly three-day growth. I am certain they were!

Hair was a different story, notmally worn longer that many modern men, and without the occasional "military" cuts we see today.

See also: www.geocities.com/old_lead/mensclothing.htm/

Michael, where are you doing your militiaman/lead miner impression?

Bob Braun.

[Bicksler]

DJ and Bob sorry about the late reply. Thanks for aall the help and input you guys have given me.
mbicksler