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The Stetson Cavalry Hat

Stetson hats or Stetsons, sometimes known simply as cowboy hats, refers to a brand name and not a type of hat. The John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri, founded by John B. Stetson (1830-1906, USA), is the manufacturer of one of the more famous variants of the cowboy hat: a felt hat with a tall crown and very wide brim. It functions to protect its wearer's eyes from the sun, and can also double as a water bowl.

There are two versions of the history associated with the Stetson hat. The first is a version that, although the most widely held belief, is in fact based on legend. This version states that in the 1860s Stetson created a rugged hat for himself made from thick beaver fur felt while panning for gold in Colorado. According to legend, Stetson invented the hat while on a hunting trip while showing his companions how he could make cloth out of fur without weaving. Stetson made an unusually large hat from fur-felt he made from hides collected on the trip, and wore the hat for the remainder of the expedition. Although initially worn as a joke, Stetson soon grew fond of the hat for its ability to protect its wearer from the elements. It had a wide brim for protection from the elements, a high crown to keep an insulating pocket of air on the head, and a waterproof lining so the hat could be used to carry water.

Christy's Hat Factory in Frampton Cotterell, England where it is thought the 'Stetson' hat was created. It is now a private House.

Studies have shown however that in fact, there is evidence to show that the 'Stetson' hat was actually originally designed by Christy's Hats from Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, England.

Bristol University lecturer John Moore, said: "Few people know that the ten gallon hat was invented in Frampton Cotterell but it's well documented in the records of the hatmakers who built and owned the factory last century J. B. Stetson fought a long patent case with Christy's - and lost. The result was that he had to pay a licence fee to market the famous Stetson hat"

Stetson might have lost, but he won in the long term. That style of hat is known universally as a Stetson, and Christy's role is nearly forgotten.

Christy's famous hat factory in Park Lane, which once employed a quarter of Frampton Cotterell residents, is now a listed building and a spacious house. Christy's built their factory in 1812 in an area where hatting was already a major cottage industry The main business was trading with the West Indies, making large brimmed felt hats for slaves harvesting sugar cane in the rainy season.

The hat was however more popular in the U.S. The hat was first sold in Central City, Colorado in 1865 in a style called the "Boss of the Plains,".

In 1869 Stetson returned to Philadelphia to found his hat company, which produced high quality hats for outdoor use.

By 1886 Stetson's hat company was the largest in the world, and had mechanized the hat-making industry.

North-West Mounted Police (now RCMP) officers, Yukon, 1900, wearing the famous scarlet uniform that includes a flat brimmed Stetson hat.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Red Serge dress uniform includes a Stetson with a flat brim. The Stetson was first used unofficially by the North West Mounted Police, in place of the traditional white pith helmet. The colour for the RCMP Stetson is sometimes referred to as "Belgian Belly", it is a reddish buff, pastel like colour of the underfur of the Belgian Hare. It is also a very little used "second name" for the Stetson. Although called a Stetson, the hat type should be considered as a campaign hat.

In the Second Boer War, the flat brimmed Stetson became the standard issue of the second Canadian Contingent, becoming recognized throughout the British Empire as a symbol of Canada. The Stetson hat became a part of the uniform of the Royal North West Mounted Police, which later became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A stylized Stetson appears on the flag of Calgary, Alberta.

Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law in Florida were named after John B. Stetson in 1899 for his contributions to the school.

In some versions of the famous American folk ballad "Stack A Lee" Billy Lyons is killed by Stack A Lee over a Stetson hat.

• Cowboy hat
• Ten-gallon hat
• Akubra
• Campaign hat

• Stetson Hats official website
• CavHooah.com - Stetson Page
• Stetson University College of Law history
• Symbolic nature of the Stetson hat in the song "Stagger Lee"