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Hair News - September 2003 |
| Author: Karen Shelton |
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Date: September 2003 |
Leila Cohoon Hair
Museum
In Independence, Missouri
September 2003 -
Cosmetologist and beauty school owner
Leila Cohoon owns a hair
museum. But most people would be surprised to discover that the
museum is not filled with old curling irons, hair rollers or other
related hairstyling artifacts.
In fact, Leila's hair museum
consists of one small room that is filled with original samples of human
hair braided into an assortment of designs. Some of the human hair dates
back before 1900. According to Ms. Cohoon, her hair museum "could
possibly be the only hair museum in the United States, maybe the world."
Cohoon began collecting the
hair as a hobby when she started the
Independence College
of Cosmetology 37 years ago. With the completion of their new
building, she finally had the space to open the museum.
The museum, listed as 100 of
the Most Unusual Museums, has been featured in many media forums
including the April 23rd,1995, issue of People magazine, the Kansas City
Star, The Independence Examiner, The Liberty Tribune, Women's World and
has been profiled on Kansas City television stations. It also
received a nod from Ripley's Believe It or Not.
In actuality there are
2,000+ pieces of jewelry containing or made of hair as well as over 150
different types of braided human hair wreaths, one featuring a flower
arrangement made from the hair of all the members of one single family.
There is also a Hair Diary from a women who while serving time in jail,
received human hair from her visitors.
The wreaths, many hanging in their
original frames, were considered pieces of art. Families put their hair
on the wreath in a horseshoe shape so that more could be added as the
family grew. Ms. Cohoon has a couple of the hair wreaths from two
sisters whose heads were shaved when they entered a convent. She has a
homemade family history book dating from 1725 to 1900 that contains
samples of the family member's hair, complete with calling cards.
The museum contains watch fobs,
bracelets, necklaces, earrings, chains, brooches, hat pins, postcards,
pictures and many other interesting items. Ms. Cohoon enjoys wearing the
jewelry and says she continues to increase her collection through
antique dealers, garage sales, auctions and people contacting her when
they have heard of the museum through the media.
After Leila received a phone call from
actress/comedian Phyllis Diller, museum added a hair wreath acquired
from Ms. Diller.
Leila reported that "by
taking apart one of the wreaths and putting it back together, I have
been able to figure out the steps, and I am now making a wreath using my
grandchildrens' hair." She added that "since learning how to do
the craft, I find that I enjoy locating and preserving the old pieces
for history much more than making new ones".
Leila's Hair Museum is now the national
headquarters for the Victorian Hairwork Society. For an entrance fee,
the public in invited to look at these locks at Leila's Hair Museum,
Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This location is where the committee
meets, photo's and press releases are archived and various hair wreaths
are displayed by the members. Information about the society and the
museum is available by contacting:
Leila Cohoon
815 W. 23rd Street
Independence, MO 64055
(816) 252-HAIR
816-252-3232
LCohoon@aol.com or
marlys@hairwork.com
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