The Griot Museum of Black History presents Crowning Glory: African-American Head Covering Traditions

Lambert Terminal 1, Bag Claim at the Meeting Place Gallery

February - May 2013

The Griot Museum of Black History in St. Louis presents Crowning Glory: African American Head Covering Traditions, a special exhibit at Lambert’s Meeting Place Gallery in Terminal 1 Bag Claim.

The exhibit, featuring the evolution and trends of African-American head-coverings, explores four main themes with more than 50 hats and head-coverings and other artifacts from The Griot's collections and private citizens. One case focuses on traditional African head coverings, including ceremonial masks to traditional Zulu headwear worn by married women, called Isicholos. A major focus of the exhibit, “Evolution of the Church Hat,” shows a wonderful display of women’s hats typically worn just for Sunday services. The hats range in styles from a subdued black straw hat from the 1920s to larger, more elaborate and attention-getting headwear, like a bright green feather hat. The exhibit also details the amazing Millinery history in St. Louis in a showcase called “Hats in the Lou.” The Levine Hat Company, which manufactured and sold popular men’s hats like the Knox and the "Zoot Suit" hat, is also prominently featured. The company had deep connections to the St. Louis African-American community since it opened for business in 1903.

Crowning Glory exhibit is accessible to all Airport visitors. The exhibit is sponsored by Lambert-St. Louis International Airport with support from the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission.

For more information, please call 314-241-7057 or visit thegriotmuseum.com