The Moustache Club

Posted by John Dojka on June 19, 2009 in
,

The Moustache Club was a student club that appeared briefly in the 1870s.  The officers consisted of president, assistant to the president, treasurer and inspector general.  Here are some excerpts from the club's constitution as detailed in the 1877 Transit:

The purpose of this organization is for the mutual cultivation of the “fuzz”.  The eligibility of membership is dependent upon the color and profuseness of prospective moustaches, the same to be determined by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses.  No gimlet-color need apply.  Each member shall ignore “side-boards” and “chinners” and devote himself exclusively to the production of a moustache.  The club’s razor shall be at the service of all members, but shall not be monopolized by any one member.  Honorary membership shall be conferred upon those who shall succeed in making their productions visible to the naked eye.

 

A club razor? Really?

I found photos of a few of the 1877 members. It's quite interesting that George Nelles, who occupied the office of Assistant to the President, is sans moustache in his student portrait! Morely Harison, an "active member" let the facial hair get out of control later in life. The poor guy looks like he trimmed his beard without the benefit of a mirror.

 

I also selected some students who definitely deserved honorary membership. These guys were serious about their 'staches.  

     

Various moustache and facial hair formations were stylish during the Victorian era.  Moustaches of the Nineteeth Century is an interesting blog devoted to the subject.

Comments

Harry C. Vaiden
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 21:13 Permalink

Richard Morley Harison was the son of Rev. Dr. Wm. Henry Harison (an Episcopal Priest) and Mary Gibbons Jones. He was born in Augusta, GA in the late 1850's and died in NYC in 1907. He is buried in Summerville Cemetery, Augusta, GA next to his two brothers, Wm. Henry Harison, Jr., M.D. and Noble Wimberly Harison. Morley never married. He was a civil engineer and spent much time in Europe. He participated in a number of bridges built in Glasgow, Scotland. He was friends with King Leopold of Belgium and was a favorite bridge player of the King. Morley traveled the world.

His great-great nephews, Allen Sawyer and Bates Montgomery Harison are my stepsons.

Harry C. Vaiden
12 Bransford Pl
Augusta, GA 30904

In reply to by egglel

amythearchivist
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:02 Permalink

Mr. Vaiden: Thank you for this information! I will add this to our biographical files.

J. Louis Trzepacz
Thu, 09/27/2012 - 19:36 Permalink

We must resurrect this club. I would love to be the staff advisor.

Add new comment

Name
Email
Comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
Your name
Back to top