Master Hairdressers

[Rosie J]

Hello I was interested to read this thread.  I have an ancestor who was also a Master Hairdresser.  His name was Timothy Cheesley (Cheeseley).  He was born c1852 in Chelsea and died October 1890.  He lived in Sloane Street.  Would anyone know if there is there anywhere that I can find out more about him and his work?  Thank you.

[sianb]

My grandfather was a hairdresser apprenticed in Caernarvon in 1894 with messrs D.P Ellis and C Llew Ellis. He served three years and recieved 1 shilling a week for the first year, 2/6 weekly for the second year and 4s a week for the 3rd year. I have his apprenticeship papers.

Sian

[loo]

I have hairdressers in my family too. 

Some resources on this topic are:

German Hairdressers in the UK, by Jenny TOWEY, pub. Anglo-German Family History Society, 2004.  (Even though this is specifically about the Germans, it gives you some of the social history on the early closing movement, which all hairdressers were affected by.)
BOOTH, Charles.  Life and Labour of the People in London., Series 2 (Industry), Vol.4, p.271.
ANDREWS, William.  At the sign of the barber's pole : studies in hirsute history.    Cottingham : J.R. Tutin, 1904.  It's short, and entertaining!
 

Journals/newspapers available at the British Library Newspaper Library, Colindale, London:
The Hairdressers’ Weekly Journal , 6 May 1882 - 30 Dec.1948.  In hard copy, 4 volumes per year.  Contains obituaries and other news items.
The Hairdresser (London). Numbers no.1-8.  Dates Jan. - Aug. 1892, then discontinued.
The Hairdresser  (The official organ of the International Union of Journeymen Hairdressers of London).  Numbers no.1-5.  Dates 15 Jan. - 15 May 1912. 
The Hairdressers' Chronicle and Trade Journal.  subtitle: The Hairdressers' Chronicle & Beauty Specialists' Trade Journal. Numbers no.1-2175.   1 Nov.1866 - 24 May 1929. 
The Boro' of West Ham, East Ham, and Stratford Express., 21 Nov. 1908 issue has an article on hairdressers. 

I have also seen references to a magazine called Hairdressing, which began in 1908, but don't know where to find it.

In German:
MAEHNERT, Carsten  Geschichte des Celler Friseur-Handwerks -- Bader, Barbiere, Perückenmacher und Friseure im Wandel der Zeit (History of the Celle barber trade – barbers surgeons, barbers, wig makers and hairdressers in changing times) 
Series: Schriftenreihe Bomann-Museum und Stadtarchiv Celle.  Celle, Germany:  Schweiger & Pick, 1986. ISBN 3-925902-04-X. In German. 143 pages.   
 


I will update as I find more.
 

[Rosie J]

Hello Loo

I found your message interesting.  I would especially like to have sight of a couple of The Hairdressers' Weekly Jounals.  Is it Colindale that I would have to travel to in order to visit the British Library where you say they house these magazines? 

Thank you.  Rosie

[loo]

Yes, all the newspapers/periodicals I mentioned are at Colindale.  I have never been there, although I certainly hope to go whenever I get to England, but from what I have read, you would be very wise to order up what you want in advance, as there can be a 48 hour delay.  They are originals, not on microfilm.

[Rosie J]

Thank you Loo,

I will make contact with them.

[Bill749]

My grandfather was a Gentleman's Hairdresser around the turn of the century with his own business in Worthington Street, Dover.  He had been apprenticed to another hairdresser in the Woolcomber Street area.

Aged about 30 in 1917, he joined the army to avoid the "white feather".  4 months later he was killed at Ypres; he left 5 children, the youngest only a toddler.

Hairdressers increased their profits by selling lots of beauty preparations and hair preparations, and, at the end of the century, cigarettes too.

Don't forget "something for the weekend" Cheryl!   

Regards, Bill

[Bill749]

Sorry! accidentally posted twice!

My grandfather was a Gentleman's Hairdresser around the turn of the century with his own business in Worthington Street, Dover.  He had been apprenticed to another hairdresser in the Woolcomber Street area.

Aged about 30 in 1917, he joined the army to avoid the "white feather".  4 months later he was killed at Ypres; he left 5 children, the youngest only a toddler.

Hairdressers increased their profits by selling lots of beauty preparations and hair preparations, and, at the end of the century, cigarettes too.

Don't forget "something for the weekend" Cheryl!   

Regards, Bill

[loo]

Pardon my ignorance, Bill, but what is/was a "white feather"?