Name/Title
Stetson HatEntry/Object ID
100124Scope and Content
(AI) This is a classic mid-20th century men's fedora (or similar style like a trilby, depending on the exact width of the back brim), typically made of high-quality wool or fur felt.
It sports a dark brown hue, a matching wide grosgrain ribbon hatband, and a sharply creased crown. This specific shape and style dominated men's fashion from the 1920s straight through the 1950s and early 60s, serving as an absolute staple of everyday street attire.
Key Details
The Crown: It features a traditional center-dent crease, giving it that sharp, classic "noir" silhouette.
The Brim: The brim appears to be styled "snapped down" in the front, which was the customary way to wear them for a more rakish, stylish angle.
The Material: The smooth texture indicates it's a soft felt, designed to hold its shape while remaining comfortable and weather-resistant.
The text "ROTHSCHILD & SON / ITHACA, N.Y." links this hat directly to one of upstate New York's most famous historic retail families.
The Story Behind the Stamp
The Store: This refers to the legendary Rothschild Brothers Department Store (or one of its earlier/subsequent men's haberdashery iterations), which was a fixture of downtown Ithaca for nearly a century.
The History: Founded originally as the Boston Variety Store in 1882 by Jacob Rothschild, it grew rapidly when his brothers Daniel and Isaac joined the firm. It eventually became the premier, massive department store on State Street (what is now the Ithaca Commons).
The Legacy: For generations of residents and students at Cornell University and Ithaca College, Rothschild's was the place to go for high-end clothing, tailored suits, and quality hats. The business remained family-run for almost 100 years until it was sold in 1980 and eventually closed.
What This Tells Us About Your Hat
During the golden age of department stores (from the late 1800s through the mid-1950s), high-end retailers didn't just sell third-party brands—they often had custom agreements with major hat manufacturers (like Stetson, Knox, or Dobbs) to stamp the department store's own prestigious name right onto the inner leather or grosgrain sweatband.
This means the original owner likely walked right into the bustling downtown Ithaca store sometime around the mid-20th century to get fitted for this very hat. It's a marvelous piece of local New York history! value ?
