Peter Cooper, 187-?. Brown Brothers, photographer. From the Miscellaneous photograph collection. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Peter Cooper was the inventor of the first steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb. The National Museum of American History has a model of the Tom Thumb in their transportation collection.
Interestingly, Cooper is also credited with inventing the first gelatin dessert—something we now call JELL-O.
Jennifer Snyder works with oral history interviews at the Archives American Art. When not sending interviews out for digitization, she is writing about extraordinary examples of facial hair for this blog.
Please make Beards of Note a regular feature. We need more exposure on what can really be done with facial hair.
Posted by: Charles | Thursday, April 01, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Hi Charles,
Thank you for your facial hair enthusiasm! I hope to make both Beards of Note and Mustaches of Note a AAA Blog feature for years to come! To tide you over between entries, you might want to check out the Smithsonian Photography Initiative's blog post that mentions Hans Langseth's donation of his beard to the National Museum of Natural History, at http://blog.photography.si.edu/2010/03/24/wisdom-is-in-the-head-and-not-in-the-beard
Posted by: Jennifer | Thursday, April 01, 2010 at 02:24 PM
I think his glasses are also of note. It looks like the lens is on a hinge! Is this a predecessor to the flip up sunglass lens made popular by Dwayne Wayne on A Different World?
Posted by: Mary | Monday, April 05, 2010 at 09:02 AM
Okay, I love the blog and especially the bearded entries. My heart truly yearns to see all of the beards held in the archives. I also think there should be a "Who Signed This" category with all of the weird unreadable signatures. I love the blog!
Posted by: Thom Burns | Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 05:03 PM
Thanks, Thom! I love facial hair, too! The signatures idea is great. Let's talk more about this. Perhaps you know of some choice ones?
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 11:17 AM
It is amazing how innovative some of these industrial engineers were. It is hard to imagine modern day inventors have such variety in their creations. Also I have not seen any of your facial hair entries but I certainly hope the Mr. Cooper makes it into your archives.
Posted by: Andy | Monday, May 31, 2010 at 07:10 AM
lol, thats a crazy picture.It looks like he has his head on upside down.
Posted by: professional clippers | Monday, June 07, 2010 at 10:30 AM
My grandfather had a beard exactly like that, and he was Italian (North of Italy).
Posted by: 3dArtist | Friday, June 18, 2010 at 05:59 PM
I had a beard like that for 10 years until i got threatened with divorce by my wife ---i hate shaving
Posted by: | Friday, July 09, 2010 at 09:28 PM
that guys picture looks so silly hehe xD
Posted by: | Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:12 AM
growing one now! :)
Posted by: Pradeep | Monday, July 19, 2010 at 07:40 AM
I wonder if this is a personal or more regional style?
Posted by: Steve | Monday, July 26, 2010 at 11:35 AM
I made a model of His steam engine when I was younger but I don't think I will try to grow a beard like his
Posted by: Tracy Colson | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 03:44 PM
So this is the person we have to thank for "Jello". This brings back all the memories of Jello dishes at Church potlucks and jello salads at Thanksgiving time.
Posted by: Cheryl Gowin | Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 11:27 AM
In addition to having a stellar beard, Peter Cooper created The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Thanks to him I received a tuition-free education.
Thanks Pete.
Posted by: Dylan | Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 08:10 PM
Love your blog because it writes about people of history who incidentally have beards.Quiet interesting.
Posted by: Aphys fade | Friday, December 03, 2010 at 09:54 AM
I think I've met this Peter Cooper guy before. If you are talking about photography, then, he's the man I've met just a few weeks ago.
Posted by: | Monday, January 17, 2011 at 01:40 AM
Peter cooper is really the main man when it comes to photography. Keep up your talents!
Posted by: | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Okay, like someone said, I love the blog and especially the bearded entries. My heart is happy to see all of the beards held in the archives too!
thanks
Posted by: ali | Friday, January 28, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Now that is something I’ve never heard before. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: JadeViolette | Wednesday, February 02, 2011 at 06:47 AM
thanks for sharing...
I haven't come across of this matter...
Peter Cooper really doing good things...
Posted by: | Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at 12:59 PM
I have read a lot about Peter Cooper and also his works!
Posted by: | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Holy bird's nest batman! That certainly is a noteworthy beard. Thanks for the smile :)
Posted by: Ben Heys | Thursday, March 03, 2011 at 01:52 AM
thank you for sharing, ur the best :)...
Posted by: zoleliu arbata | Tuesday, March 08, 2011 at 09:12 AM
I feel sorry for the guy who posted on July 9th that after 10 years of enjoying a no-shaving lifestyle, he had to give up his beard to avoid divorce. I'm thankful my wife hasn't made such demands, as I, too, hate shaving.
Posted by: Ed | Tuesday, March 08, 2011 at 08:06 PM