Back 100 years ago, the bob or the bobbed hairstyle was in the national news thanks to remarks made by a the president of Aetna Insurance
On July 6, 1921, F.K. Daniels, president of Aetna Insurance, said the artificially blonde hair women and bobbed hair women have no place in the business world. At the time, his company employed 3,000 women nationwide.
His comments hit hard, Mable Johnson, an 18 year old with bobbed blonde hair, responded by saying bald-headed men look less business-like.
On July 16, 1921, the Scranton Times wrote an editorial in support of the “bobbed hair girl.”
The debate continued.
On Aug. 10, Helen Armstrong, an employee in the carpet department at Marshall Field department store in Chicago was fired for her bobbed hair.
Following the bobbed hair rule, Marshall Fields instituted more appearance rules such as no rolled down stockings, no rogue or dresses with embroidered parts.
The Scranton Tribune wrote an editorial on Aug. 16 in support of bobbed hair style –
On Aug. 24, the Scranton Times featured a cartoon from artist Bushnell that dealt with how the bobbed hair style came to be.
The origin of bobbed hair was presented in comic strip form by artist Bushnell in the Aug. 24, 1921, edition of The Scranton Times. Hostility against bobbed hair had been growing across the country, and in some cases women were denied employment due to their hair style. In a Scranton Republican editorial on Aug. 16, 1921, it was the opinion of the paper that “bobbed hair is now common. It is ridiculous for any few persons to try to put a stop to the more general use of the scissors by denying employment to girls who affect the new fashion.” TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
The debate continued. In Oct. 10, 1921 edition of the Scranton Republican ran an article summarizing readers opinions on the hairstyle.
The debate on bobbed hair would continue for years until styles changed back to wearing your hair long.
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
