Leila's Hair Museum
Encyclopedia
Leila's Hair Museum is a museum
in Independence, Missouri
that displays examples of hair art
dating back to the 19th century.
. It was used by people wanting to keep a memento
to a loved one before the invention of photography. According to the Minnesota history magazine, hair art originated in England and France and than made its way to the United States. This form of art consisted of necklaces, bracelets, rings, lockets, paintings and medallions embellished with strands of hair.
teacher living in Independence, Missouri
. She was a friend of Ronald Reagan
and Oliver North
and is a member of the Missouri Board of Cosmetology. Leila owns her own her school called the Independence School of Cosmetology. She started collecting hair in 1949 and considers it to be her life work. She was always fascinated with hair as a child and believes it is one of the most unique part of the human body. She opened the hair museum in 1989 in a small room located in her Cosmetology School. She did this because she was running out of space for the collection of hair art that she had built up over the years. Later, she moved her hair school and museum a few blocks from the old location so as to be able to expand. The new location for the museum consists of several rooms with their walls covered with the hair art from top to bottom .
and two were made from hair shorn from sisters when they entered a convent. This was one of the first items collected by Leila in 1956. She also has paintings that include the hair of babies who have died. There are also exhibits that include the hair of famous people. Elvis Presley
is represented by a framed plaque and there is also hair from George Washington
, Abraham Lincoln
, Daniel Webster
, Aaron Burr
, singer Jenny Lind
and the first U.S Commanders in Chief. Leila is not fond of collecting the hair of famous people but that does not mean she will not have some on display. The museum is open to the public daily..
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
that displays examples of hair art
Hair jewellery
Hair work, or jewelry made of human hair, was in fashion during most of the 19th century and a few decades into the 20th. It disappeared when short skirts and the bob became stylish around 1925....
dating back to the 19th century.
Hair art
Hair art was a form of art that began in the 19th century and flourished in the Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. It was used by people wanting to keep a memento
Memento
A memento is a keepsake or souvenir of remembrance.Memento may also refer to:* Memento , a 2000 feature-length film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Guy Pearce* Memento , a Czech book written by Radek John...
to a loved one before the invention of photography. According to the Minnesota history magazine, hair art originated in England and France and than made its way to the United States. This form of art consisted of necklaces, bracelets, rings, lockets, paintings and medallions embellished with strands of hair.
Founder
Leila Cohoon is a retired cosmetologistCosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
teacher living in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. She was a friend of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
and is a member of the Missouri Board of Cosmetology. Leila owns her own her school called the Independence School of Cosmetology. She started collecting hair in 1949 and considers it to be her life work. She was always fascinated with hair as a child and believes it is one of the most unique part of the human body. She opened the hair museum in 1989 in a small room located in her Cosmetology School. She did this because she was running out of space for the collection of hair art that she had built up over the years. Later, she moved her hair school and museum a few blocks from the old location so as to be able to expand. The new location for the museum consists of several rooms with their walls covered with the hair art from top to bottom .
The collection
Leila’s museum has 159 wreaths and over 2,000 pieces of jewelry which includes locks of hair dating from the 19th century and earlier. Her oldest exhibit is a brooch dated 1680. and many framed items are over a hundred years old. These include one which is an assembly of hair from every member of the chapter of the League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
and two were made from hair shorn from sisters when they entered a convent. This was one of the first items collected by Leila in 1956. She also has paintings that include the hair of babies who have died. There are also exhibits that include the hair of famous people. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
is represented by a framed plaque and there is also hair from George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, singer Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind , better known as Jenny Lind, was a Swedish opera singer, often known as the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she is known for her performances in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and for an extraordinarily...
and the first U.S Commanders in Chief. Leila is not fond of collecting the hair of famous people but that does not mean she will not have some on display. The museum is open to the public daily..