Academy Town Square Presidential Hair: A Close Shave With History
When:
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018 6:30p -
N
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018 6:30p -
N
Where:
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Ben Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Lectures & Conferences, University
Event website:
ansp.org
In the early 19th century, a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences assembled an extraordinary collection of wool, fur and hair, hoping, in a pre-Darwinian world, to discover how animals were related to each other, and what practical purposes their hair might serve. Academy Curator of Art and Artifacts and Senior Fellow Robert Peck will discuss his new book on the subject, Specimens of Hair, at an Academy Town Square. The collector, Peter A. Browne, was a self-taught expert on hair, with a network of associates around the world from whom he sought out examples of what he called “pile” from animals and people alike. Brown was also eager to understand the relationship between people as revealed by their hair. The most famous highlights of his collection include hair from well-known artists, writers, scientists, and 13 of the first 14 U.S. presidents. Following the talk, Peck will sign copies of Specimens of Hair, which features photographs by Rosamond Purcell. The talk is free. Registration is required to ensure a seat. Visit Ansp.org.
