A quick deviation from some of the things I have been planning on blogging about, but I want to get some info on hoods or caps out there to share. This is not a proper article or even much interpretation on the facts but rather a listing of some info I have found.
Throughout the Great Lakes and out to the Rockies and beyond, there are a variety of interesting horned or eared hoods that are seen. Most extant hoods and images of them seem to be later 18th century and through the 19th century. There seems to be a fair bit of variety on these hoods and there seems to perhaps be many reasons for their being worn by both natives and some non-native hunters.
Some functional reasons these hoods/caps were worn…
1.) They were warm
2.) They functioned as hats when others were not available (mentioned by A.J. Miller in the west)
3.) They were fashionable, or at least decorative.
4.) The provided a “disguise” for the hunter (especially in the Prairie) to help get within range of game.
Beyond this, I think that in Native American cultures, there may have been something a bit more spiritual involved as well. I believe that any time something is worn to appear like some other being, there is a special transformative power to it. Anyway, this is as far as I am going on that part of the topic.
Here are a couple interesting quotes from the West on these hoods.
A.J. Miller states, “Some of these caps are constructed of the same material [blanket] but these last exercise to a great extent the genius of the trapper.”
Rudolph Freiderich Kurz, speaking of his hunter Morgan on the Upper Missouri in 1851 says, “Another time, wearing his horned fur cap, he enticed two dainty hinds within range of his rifle, but his gun missed fire and the animals ran off.”
Here is an interesting bit of quote from Prince Maximilian (I can not find the full citation at the moment),.,
“A more modern form of hood for winter
wear was attached to a cloth shirt. Such an
attached hood was most likely to be found on
the shirts of the younger men who wore them
on summer war parties. The hood, drawn up
over the head, tended to give a warrior the
appearance of a wolf or coyote as he reconnoitered
over the top of a hill…
“Since the Hidatsa, like other Plains tribes,
conceived of a war party either as symbolizing
wolves or as their imitators, customarily warriors
wore a headdress of sheeting in the form
of a hood or turban to symbolize the wolves
they were assumed to be imitating. Such a
headdress served also as a kind of protective
coloration for a scout because he was rendered
less conspicuous against the skyline. Usually
the scout wore the turban-like headdress in a
position that left his ears uncovered on the
assumption that no sound would escape him.
Another warrior’s headdress was in the form of
a skin cap with two ears, said to be in imitation
of a wolf’s head. For winter wear such caps
were made of pieces of buffalo skin; and in
summer, of pieces of an old tipi skin. Scouts
also sought additional protection by covering
their faces and shoulders with white clay which
gave them a generally gray tone, detracting
considerably from their visibility.”
Nathan Kobuck brought to my attention and interesting quote from Kentucky in the 1790s. James Wade states “ A very Nice Indian cap and a gun stick were found where they camped. The cap was made of two pieces of white colored cloth with two red tassles hanging down, one on each side of the head, at the corners that stuck up”
And some images to peruse…
Isaac, Do we know what kind of wool was used for the western hoods? Broadcloth, duffel, etc?
I have not seen reference to the type. I would assume duffle or strouds would have been accessible through trade and kersey/blanket is always a good option as well
I have examined several Hunters Hoods while working for Technical Services before the Museum of Man was relocated to the Quebec side from the Victoria Museum in Ottawa, Canada. They were made from Cariboo leather lined with Snowshoe Hare Fur. I would assume that later on various 24 ounce wool with lining became popular because of easy availability. Warmth was always a major consideration…in fact, paramount to Hunters and Civilians who spent their Winters in extreme temperatures.
I have examined several Hunters Hoods while working for Technical Services before the Museum of Man was relocated to the Quebec side from the Victoria Museum in Ottawa, Canada. They were made from Cariboo leather lined with Snowshoe Hare Fur. I would assume that later on various 24 ounce wool with lining became popular because of easy availability. Warmth was always a major consideration…in fact, paramount to Hunters and Civilians who spent their Winters in extreme temperatures.
Excellent depiction of Deep Winterwear. To cut the windchill was the first objective. Keep warm! My Scottish mom used to knit heavy mittens for my Dad, sister and myself. They were attached to a Lanyard made from twisted yarn. In this fashion, you would never lose your “Mittaines”. A consideration at ten below zero!
i would like to get the pattern to make one of these wolf eared hoods for my winter mt. man outfit if you could help me that would be great
I would contact Shawn (the Quillworker). He’s on Facebook. He’s one of the premier quillworkers in the United States. He has illustrated and worn these types of Hooded Hats in his book. He may have a pattern to share with you. Cordially, Robb Walker. [email protected]