Movember begins today. Support your mustachioed buddies as the next 30 days reveal their ability to grow a thick and bushy upper-lip bear rug; a whispery mouth spider web; or something in between. All to promote men’s health and combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges.Our current exhibit, “Through a Different Lens: Three Connecticut Women Photographers,” may not appear to have much to do with the moustache. But considering that two of the three women lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s, it’s no surprise that their photographic portraits are teeming with facial hair. Harriet V.S. Thorne, an upper-class, amateur photographer who lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is my favorite of our three featured photographers. She photographed friends, family, and acquaintances at or near her multiple homes in Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina.
Finding my top ten facial hair photos from Thorne’s collection was almost too easy. In those days, men knew how to grow ‘em and groom ‘em. (Unfortunately, most of the gentlemen are unidentified.) In honor of the unshaven among us, past and present, here you go.
Ben Gammell is the Coordinator of Interpretive Projects at the Connecticut Historical Society.
So, I guess we will watch Mike’s upper lip.
Love it! Will have to share with my bearded husband. 🙂