Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture
Object Details
- Creator
- Mathis, Nathaniel, 1946- (barber, motivational speaker)
- Interviewer
- Ruffins, Fath Davis
- Place
- Washington (D.C.) -- Small business -- 20th century
- Topic
- African American barbers
- African American beauty operators
- Barbers
- Barbering
- Barbershops -- Equipment and supplies -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C)
- Beauty culture
- Hair
- Hairdressing of African Americans -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C.)
- Inventors
- Motivation -- Public speaking -- 1970-2000
- Public speaking -- 1970-2000
- Provenance
- Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History by Nathaniel Mathis on April 9, 1998.
- Creator
- Mathis, Nathaniel, 1946- (barber, motivational speaker)
- See more items in
- Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture
- Summary
- Nathaniel Mathis is a Washington, D.C., hairstylist, inventor, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. His papers document his business life and community involvement.
- Accruals
- An additional .3 cubic feet was donated to the Archives Center in 2004; 3 audio cassettes, 1 DVD and 2 mini discs were added in 2006.
- Biographical / Historical
- "Nat Mathis (b. 1946) is a native Washingtonian. He is a man of many talents and measures his success in many ways: innovative hairstylist, entrepreneur, inventor, community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. Mathis opened his first barber shop in 1969. He is the winner of many national and international hairstyling awards and competitions and was the first African American to win the International Hair Styling competition in Cairo, Egypt in 1981. Mathis was among the first African American hairstylists to embrace and popularize the Afro and, later, cornrows -- hairstyles which many view as expressions of black empowerment. Mathis himself seldom expresses a political ideology of hair, but by 1970, Nat was known among his many satisfied clients and peers as "the Bush Doctor" for his expertise in Afro style and maintenance. He has styled hair for many celebrities; made numerous television appearances; and has been a stylist for several productions at the Kennedy Center, and for two major motion pictures, including Nixon, for which he re-created period hairstyles. He is active in community affairs, gives motivational speeches throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and is particularly interested in mentoring young people. He currently operates a barber shop adjacent to his home in Capitol Heights, Maryland." *Biographical information provided by Nat Mathis's Official Website, "A Man of Many Talents." http://www.natmathis.com (accessed 02 August, 2006).
- Extent
- 5.5 Cubic feet (18 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
- Date
- 1946-2004
- bulk 1970-2004
- Archival Repository
- Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Identifier
- NMAH.AC.0641
- Type
- Collection descriptions
- Archival materials
- Awards
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Interviews
- Oral history
- Black-and-white photographic prints
- Videotapes
- Citation
- Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Arrangement
- The collection is arranged into ten series. Series 1: Biographical Information and Activities, 1946-2001, undated Series 2: Beauty Business Documents and Advertising, 1969-2002, undated Series 3: Publicity, 1963-2002 Series 4: Washington, D.C. Barbering and Cosmetology Boards, 1966-1997, undated Series 5: Correspondence, 1967-2002, undated Series 6: Awards and Certificates, 1969-2001, undated Series 7: Photographs, 1966-1989, undated Series 8: Video Materials, 1983-2002, undated Series 9: Audio Tapes, 1998-2004, undated Series 10: Memorabilia, 1992-1998, undated
- Processing Information
- Processed by Mimi Minnick, archivist, 1998.
- Rights
- Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: fees for commercial use. The Archives Center does not own rights to the patent, trademark or any related interest in the artifacts.
- Genre/Form
- Awards
- Certificates
- Correspondence -- 1970-2000
- Interviews -- 1980-2000
- Interviews -- 2000-2010
- Oral history -- 1990-2000
- Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000
- Videotapes
- Scope and Contents
- The collection documents the work of a hairstylist, inventor, entrepreneur, and public figure whose career reflects significant changes in the African American community in the later 20th century. It is rich in visual imagery created by and for this community. Business papers, correspondence, publicity, photographs, awards and certificates documenting Mathis's work as a highly regarded barber and hairstylist in Washington, D.C., and as member of the D.C. Board of Barbering and Cosmetology are included. Business papers offer insight into the workings of a small privately-owned business. Numerous publicity items and photographs offer evidence of African American style and fashion in New York and Washington, D.C., from the late 1960s through today. Additional material documents Mathis's activities as a community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. The collection also includes photographs, oral history interviews, and audio-visual materials.
- Restrictions
- The copllection is open for research. Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Technical Access: Series 8, Video materials and Series 9, Audiotapes may not be used by researchers unless reference and viewing copies are made available.
- Separated Materials
- Mr. Mathis donated three of his patented barbering vests (See Accession # 1998.0114) to the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).
- Record ID
- ebl-1503510067717-1503510067725-0
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
In the Collection
Pages
Pages
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