Plug Hat with Leather Travel Case
Identifier
nyuhsl/j9kd52qx
Collection
Linked Agent
Creator (cre): New York University School of Medicine
Date Created
1888-01-01 00:00:00Z
Date
1888-01-01 00:00:00Z
Resource Type
Genre
Description
Plug hat with leather travel case belonging to Valentine Mott, MD (1785-1865). Dr. Mott served as Professor of Principles, Practice & Operations of Surgery at University Medical College from 1841 to 1850.
Plug hat (high silk hat) measuring 16 cm high x 60 cm around. The brim is 5 cm wide and turned up and in at the sides. The leather band measures approximately 56 cm around and is 6 cm wide. On the inside top of the hat is printed "Extra Quality. By Special Appointment, Scott & Company Hatters to H. M. the King and Royal Family. 1 Old Bond Street. Piccadilly. W." The inside of the hat is lined with silk.
Leather case for the hat measuring approximately 77.5 cm around the outside at the bottom and 102.5 cm at the top. The case is round at the bottom and oblong at the top. The height in front and back, outside, is 33 cm and 28.5 cm at both sides. Connected on one side is a leather and cloth strap with a straight metal hook on the inside. On the other side is a very short leather strap with an oblong metal ring attached. The inside seems to be lined with cardboard. There are shipping and identification labels all around the outside. Some overlap, some completely worn off. Among these are "Baggage, P&O Son Co. London. Port...Passenger's name V. Mott” and "Cabin...P&O SS Egypt V. Mott Berth No. 88.” On one outer side, there is a round metal plate 5 cm in diameter, with a keyhole. Probably the straps had a metal hook that fit into a rectangular hole above. An oblong shaped holder, open in the center. This fits on the inside of the leather case at the top.
The cover of the case is made of leather, with padding and cloth lining the inside top. Also on the inside are two leather and cloth straps, one on each side. These straps currently have no hooks, but at one time might have. The cover has a leather handle across the top that is 1 cm thick and 4.5 cm wide. The handle is both stitched and bolted (with a single bolt on each side) to the cover. The cover also has a few shipping labels attached and stenciled. Across the top are the initials, 4 cm high, "V.M.".
In the stored document files [LA tried to locate in 2007 but not sure what this is referring to] was found a memorandum from Doctor McEwen to Miss Baine (former librarian of the School of Medicine Library) dated 3/16/1956. The memo is unsigned and refers to an attached note from Mr. Orwill V. W. Hawkins, telling how Doctor Mott’s hat came into the possession of the school. A typed (unsigned) copy of the letter is attached. This explains that Mr. Hawkins has a son named Harman, who is married to Janet Gay. "Janet's mother was Helen Remsen, who was the daughter of John F. Remsen, and Mr. Gay held it as a curiosity piece."
Estate of John F. Remsen.
Plug hat (high silk hat) measuring 16 cm high x 60 cm around. The brim is 5 cm wide and turned up and in at the sides. The leather band measures approximately 56 cm around and is 6 cm wide. On the inside top of the hat is printed "Extra Quality. By Special Appointment, Scott & Company Hatters to H. M. the King and Royal Family. 1 Old Bond Street. Piccadilly. W." The inside of the hat is lined with silk.
Leather case for the hat measuring approximately 77.5 cm around the outside at the bottom and 102.5 cm at the top. The case is round at the bottom and oblong at the top. The height in front and back, outside, is 33 cm and 28.5 cm at both sides. Connected on one side is a leather and cloth strap with a straight metal hook on the inside. On the other side is a very short leather strap with an oblong metal ring attached. The inside seems to be lined with cardboard. There are shipping and identification labels all around the outside. Some overlap, some completely worn off. Among these are "Baggage, P&O Son Co. London. Port...Passenger's name V. Mott” and "Cabin...P&O SS Egypt V. Mott Berth No. 88.” On one outer side, there is a round metal plate 5 cm in diameter, with a keyhole. Probably the straps had a metal hook that fit into a rectangular hole above. An oblong shaped holder, open in the center. This fits on the inside of the leather case at the top.
The cover of the case is made of leather, with padding and cloth lining the inside top. Also on the inside are two leather and cloth straps, one on each side. These straps currently have no hooks, but at one time might have. The cover has a leather handle across the top that is 1 cm thick and 4.5 cm wide. The handle is both stitched and bolted (with a single bolt on each side) to the cover. The cover also has a few shipping labels attached and stenciled. Across the top are the initials, 4 cm high, "V.M.".
In the stored document files [LA tried to locate in 2007 but not sure what this is referring to] was found a memorandum from Doctor McEwen to Miss Baine (former librarian of the School of Medicine Library) dated 3/16/1956. The memo is unsigned and refers to an attached note from Mr. Orwill V. W. Hawkins, telling how Doctor Mott’s hat came into the possession of the school. A typed (unsigned) copy of the letter is attached. This explains that Mr. Hawkins has a son named Harman, who is married to Janet Gay. "Janet's mother was Helen Remsen, who was the daughter of John F. Remsen, and Mr. Gay held it as a curiosity piece."
Estate of John F. Remsen.
Physical Form
Extent
see description
Subject
Geographic Subject
Subjects (name)
Note
Hat is in near mint condition. However some deterioration can be seen on the travel case. The leather might have the beginnings of red rot in some places. This was the first digital image ever captured of objects in the archives. This image has an accompanying RAW file.
Rights
Reproductions are provided for private study, scholarship, and research uses only, in accordance with the Copyright law (Title 17, United States Code). Reproductions are the sole and exclusive property of the NYU Medical Archives and may not be reproduced in any fashion or used for any purpose other than private scholarship without the express written consent of the NYU Medical Archives.