Artifact Project

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Artifact Project

• Beaver Hats
• By Brigitta

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Introduction

• Beaver hats were very fashionable, and played a
  very important part in the fur trade. In 1550 to
  1850 beaver hats were popular in Europe, but by
  the late 1500's beaver became extinct in Europe,
  and almost extinct in Scandinavia and Russia. So
  the North American fur trade was a new source, so
  they could keep the fashion going for two more
  centuries.

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What was it?

• There were two types of beaver pelts. They were
  "Coat" and "parchment". "Coat" pelts were worn by
  Indians before they were traded, so they were
  easier to use. "Parchment" was trapped and traded
  right away, and it cost more because they had to
  send it to Russia. Only they knew how to comb the
  beaver wool from it.

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Cost

• Because of the long trip it took to transport the
  fur, the harsh conditions of the trip, and the
  long process it took to make them, beaver hats
  were extremely expensive and considered valuable.

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What was it made of?

• Beaver hats were made of beaver pelts. They (hat
  makers) would take off guard hairs and would use
  the fur underneath to complete a long and
  complicated process to transform it into a hat.

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How did it help the fur trade, and development of
Canada?

• Because of its popularity in the 18th and 19th
  century it made the fur trade get larger. They
  found furs in Canada and people began to settle
  there.

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Is it still used today?

• People dont usually walk around wearing beaver
  hats now-a-days, but it will always be remembered
  for the important role it played in the
  development of Canada.

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Artifact Crossword

• Please click here to do the crossword.

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Bibiliography

• Images
• Powerpoint
• http//www.whiteoak.org/learning/furhat.htm
• http//www.hbc.com/hbc/e_hi/historic_hbc/Beaver_ha
  ts.htm
• http//www.hjemkomst-center.com/rrv/furs/artifacts
  /beaver/beav06.html