In the first half of the 20th century, it was the social norm for men to be seen out an about with a hat on their head. Through the decades, the arrival of European immigrant communities to New York brought new styles and culture in headware.
The purchase of a hat was an investment, and item of clothing to be worn with pride and respected more than any other item of a man’s wardrobe. Most hats were bought from local haberdashers or department stores while it is likely that some could be acquired secondhand.
