Joshua Bennett
John Batterson Stetson was an American hat maker and entrepreneur who invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s. He founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865, which became one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world. Stetson was a devout Baptist and is known for his religious morals and philanthropy. He donated generously to charitable organizations, helped build schools and colleges, and established the YMCA in Philadelphia. While there is no definitive evidence that confirms Stetson's religious affiliation, his contributions to the YMCA and other charitable endeavors suggest a strong sense of religious and moral conviction.
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What You'll Learn
John B. Stetson was a Baptist
Stetson was born on May 5, 1830, in Orange, New Jersey, and was one of 12 children. His father, Stephen Stetson, was a hatter and taught his son the trade. Stetson left school early to learn the trade of a hatter from his father. He soon became ill and went to Colorado in search of gold, hoping that the change of air would improve his health.
In Colorado, Stetson worked in a brickyard and eventually became a manager and part-owner, but his business was ruined in a flood. During a trip to Pike's Peak in Colorado, Stetson relied on his hat-making skills to turn animal pelts into felt for use as waterproof hats and tents by him and his travelling companions. It was during this trip that Stetson first created the prototype for what would become the cowboy hat. The idea for the design came from the Mexican Vaqueros' 10-gallon sombreros, which Stetson had seen during his time in the West.
After returning to Philadelphia in 1865, Stetson founded the John B. Stetson Company and began mass-producing his signature hat, "The Boss of the Plains". Stetson was a devout Baptist, and this influenced the way he ran his company. He provided good wages and extensive benefits to his employees, including a robust profit-sharing program, Christmas bonuses, and access to Stetson facilities. He also established a dispensary and a free hospital for his employees and the community, and created the John B. Stetson Building Association, which gave out loans to employees at below-market rates.
Stetson was also known for his philanthropy, donating generously to educational institutions and charities. He helped fund Temple University and Stetson University, as well as a YMCA and a homeless shelter/soup kitchen in Philadelphia. He also endowed an academy in DeLand, Florida, which was renamed Stetson University in 1889.
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Stetson's philanthropy
John Batterson Stetson was an American hat maker who invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s and founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865. Stetson's philanthropy helped fund several educational institutions and charities.
Stetson was a philanthropist who donated almost all of his money to charitable organizations and educational institutions. He helped build grammar and high schools and colleges, including Temple and Stetson Universities. Stetson University, established in 1889, was previously known as the DeLand Academy in DeLand, Florida. It was renamed after John B. Stetson, who donated generously to the academy. The university now has a college of law in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is a non-profit organisation. Stetson also co-founded the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Philadelphia.
Stetson was also an important contributor to the YMCA and many other Philadelphia charities. He established a dispensary that later grew to serve the neighbourhood. He also built a free hospital on the land adjacent to his factory building. Stetson also established the John B. Stetson Building Association, which gave his employees below-market-rate loans and helped over 1,000 employees purchase homes.
Stetson was also known for his concern for his employees' well-being, providing them with benefits such as prizes, Christmas bonuses, shared stock, pensions, and membership to a building association, as well as access to Stetson facilities. He also added a company library, dentist, hospital, auditorium, and athletic fields for recreational use. Stetson's tradition of providing annual bonuses, Christmas gifts, and facilities for employees was an active attempt to dissuade unions.
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Stetson's hat-making career
John Batterson Stetson, born in 1830, was an American hat maker who invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s. He was the son of a hatter and learned the trade from his father. Stetson's hat-making career began when he moved to Saint Joseph, Missouri, and worked in a brickyard. He then travelled to Pike's Peak in Colorado, where he crafted hats out of animal pelts for himself and his companions. This experience inspired him to create a waterproof version of the Mexican Vaqueros 10-gallon sombrero, which later became known as "The Boss of the Plains". This hat, with its high crown and wide brim, became the prototype for all cowboy hat designs.
In 1865, Stetson returned to the East and settled in Philadelphia, where he established the John B. Stetson Company. The company became one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world, and its hats became synonymous with the cowboy image. Western icons such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, and Annie Oakley wore Stetsons, solidifying its place in popular culture. Stetson's company was also known for its innovative marketing techniques, high-quality hat boxes, and commitment to employee welfare. He provided benefits such as prizes, bonuses, pensions, and access to company facilities, including a library, dentist, hospital, and recreational spaces. Stetson's concern for his employees' well-being extended beyond the company walls, as he established a dispensary and a free hospital for those in need in the factory neighbourhood.
Stetson's hat-making business continued to flourish, and he built a factory on 12 acres of land in Philadelphia. His factory buildings were made of brick, incorporated safety features, and housed some of the best hat-manufacturing equipment in the world. Stetson's company also produced industrial films promoting its processes and products, further spreading its reputation. The Stetson name became so iconic that all high-crowned, wide-brimmed, soft felt western hats that followed became intimately associated with the cowboy image he created.
In addition to his business success, Stetson was known for his philanthropy. He donated generously to educational institutions, establishing Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, and contributing to the development of colleges and universities. Stetson also supported charitable organisations, including the YMCA in Philadelphia and various homeless shelters and soup kitchens. His mansion, the John B. Stetson House in DeLand, Florida, stands as a testament to his success and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
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Stetson's business practices
John B. Stetson was an American hat maker who founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865. Stetson is credited with inventing the cowboy hat in the 1860s, and his company became one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world.
Stetson's company was also known for its marketing and branding strategies. The production of high-quality hat boxes with Christmas imagery or famous Philadelphia institutions became associated with the Stetson name. They utilised marketing techniques and distributed promotional films, such as "Birth of a Hat," to merchants and conventions, incorporating feedback into their product development. Stetson's hats became synonymous with the cowboy image, and his company dressed Western icons such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, and Annie Oakley.
In addition to his business success, Stetson was a philanthropist who donated generously to educational institutions and charitable organizations. He helped fund Temple University, Stetson University, and the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Philadelphia. Stetson's mansion in DeLand, Florida, built in the Gothic, Tudor, and Moorish styles, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
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Stetson's legacy
John B. Stetson is recognized as one of America's most influential and iconic figures, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape industries and cultural trends even today. Known as the "Father of Modern Hatmaking," Stetson revolutionized the hat industry and established a brand that has become synonymous with quality, style, and American heritage.
Stetson's innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive led him to create the first cowboy hat, the "Boss of the Plains." Introduced in 1865, this hat became an instant classic and a symbol of the Wild West. Crafted from beaver fur felt, it was designed to be durable, lightweight, and water-resistant, offering protection from the elements for cowboys and outdoorsmen. The hat's wide brim provided shade from the sun and shelter from rain or snow, making it a functional and fashionable accessory.
Beyond his contributions to the hat industry, Stetson was also a philanthropist and a supporter of education. He established the John B. Stetson Charitable Trust, which provided funding for educational institutions and charitable causes. One of the trust's notable achievements was the founding of Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Established in 1883, the university has grown into a leading educational institution, known for its strong academic programs and commitment to community engagement. Stetson University reflects Stetson's legacy of giving back and his belief in the power of education to transform lives.
Stetson's influence also extended to the fashion world, as his hats became a staple in popular culture and Hollywood. The Stetson hat has been worn by iconic actors and celebrities, including John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Redford. It has come to represent a sense of rugged individualism, adventure, and Americana. Stetson hats have been featured in countless Western films and have helped shape the image of the cowboy in popular culture, both in the United States and internationally.
In addition to his professional achievements, Stetson was also known for his personal integrity and strong values. He was a devout Christian and incorporated his faith into his business practices. Stetson believed in treating his employees with respect and fairness, and he promoted ethical and sustainable business operations. He was also a strong supporter of American-made products and took pride in the fact that his hats were crafted with precision and attention to detail in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
No, John B. Stetson was a devout Baptist.
John B. Stetson was a hat maker who invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s. He founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and it became one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world.
Yes, John B. Stetson had a son named G. Henry Stetson, who took over the company after his father's death in 1906.
The Stetson Company was known for its innovation and quality. It provided many benefits to its employees, such as prizes, Christmas bonuses, shared stock, pensions, and access to Stetson facilities. The company also built a free hospital on the land adjacent to the factory building for its employees and the community.
