Powell's Hair being "Filed?" What's THAT about?!

[Jenny]

I think you're onto something, Linda!

I doubt Powell's hair was the same type as African Americans; rather I think that the newspaper used the term to purposely degrade Lew by associating him with a term used mostly to describe haircuts for blacks (considered "inferior" people at the time for the most part).

[BettyO]

Thanks to Linda! I'm still attempting to find out just what this particular hair cut entailed....it must have been pretty close to shaving one's head, perhaps? I don't know. I know that the photo of Lew on the gallows shows that his hair is extremely short - crew cut looking....I can only surmise that it was cut with scissors, in a normal fashion and then when it was cut really short that a straight razor was taken to it perhaps? I can't imagine that an actual file was taken to anyone's head!?! That would be horrid and I would think bloody! At least the scalp would be extremely sore?!?

No, Powell's hair was the usual silky Caucasian hair; nothing different there, Jenny! You could be right, though....

[Jenny]

I bet it is really close to a crew cut... my friend indicated that an open razor blade was used to slice the hair during a "filing" as opposed to cutting with scissors. She said it is what would be called a "razor cut" today. No actual file used in the process. (That would have been really horrible!)

[Gene C]

When my father was a POW in WWII, he said they would shave their heads because of the lice.

The conspirator's trial occurred durring a hot summer, and those prison cells probably didn't have much for air ventilation.
Since Powell had to endure wearing the hood (and a padded one at that) longer than anyone else, maybe the short hair cut was an effort to make his imprisonment a little more tolerable?

[BettyO]

I agree with you Gene --

The hair cut (and Powell's hair was somewhat longish and very thick as well) would have made him much cooler in lieu of wearing that horrid hood as well as being more hygienic - prevention from lice, etc.

Jenny -- Is what you're talking about considered to be a layered cut?

[Jenny]

I believe razor cuts often involve creating layers - I'm no expert though. Here's what seems like a good description of a razor cut:

"The razor blade creates multiple layers on hair; but unlike the smooth layers of layered haircuts, each section of hair has a slightly different length in a razor haircut. The overall effect is textured, choppy and messy."

So Powell's short haircut by "filing" might have been considered very fashionable today!

Not an expert on men's hairstyles in the 19th century, but I doubt gentlemen's haircuts were "choppy and messy" then (correct me if I am wrong)! I bet it was just a quick, carelessly done cut on him using a razor blade to get it short for the reasons Gene stated. Giving the poor guy a stylish short haircut for the time most likely wasn't on the agenda of the cutter.

[BettyO]

Agreed, Jenny! Apparently Lew wasn't being barbered to be featured on the cover of a Victorian equivalent of GQ !

[Gene C]

How about the cover of "Conspirator's Quarterly"? this month's articles include -
Fashionable hairstyles that keep the bugs at bay
Courtroom demeanor, how to speak volumes without saying a word.
Is constipation making you crazy?
Vacationing in the Keys...It's not all sun and surf.

[John Stanton]

I don't have a "book" answer, but if I was working a Crossword puzzle, I would say "filed" meant - cleaned up and put in order. Powell had a full crop of hair - messy, - and it was put in order FILED.

[BettyO]

How about the cover of "Conspirator's Quarterly"? this month's articles include -
Fashionable hairstyles that keep the bugs at bay
Courtroom demeanor, how to speak volumes without saying a word.
Is constipation making you crazy?
Vacationing in the Keys...It's not all sun and surf.

OMG! Gene - That's hysterical!!

[Linda Anderson]

How about the cover of "Conspirator's Quarterly"? this month's articles include -
Fashionable hairstyles that keep the bugs at bay
Courtroom demeanor, how to speak volumes without saying a word.
Is constipation making you crazy?
Vacationing in the Keys...It's not all sun and surf.

More articles:

Live in the moment-How to entice the ladies when you are on trial for your life.
Plan for the future -How to write the perfect thank you note for the presents the ladies send you in case you survive this whole ordeal and want to marry one of them.
Mastering the difficult art of crossing your legs when your legs are shackled by a six foot long chain to which is attached a 50 pound ball.

[MaddieM]

Would it be what's now called a razor cut? Taking sections of hair and scraping them short? Might be quicker than scissors and with a sharper blade. Poor Lewis, he may have ended up looking as though it had been cut with a knife and fork!!!

---

How about the cover of "Conspirator's Quarterly"? this month's articles include -
Fashionable hairstyles that keep the bugs at bay
Courtroom demeanor, how to speak volumes without saying a word.
Is constipation making you crazy?
Vacationing in the Keys...It's not all sun and surf.

More articles:

Live in the moment-How to entice the ladies when you are on trial for your life.
Plan for the future -How to write the perfect thank you note for the presents the ladies send you in case you survive this whole ordeal and want to marry one of them.
Mastering the difficult art of crossing your legs while wearing a ball and chain.

[L Verge]

I first suggested a razor cut because back in the late-1960s, I wore my hair short in what was then known as a Pixie Cut. I have lots of hair (still) and it was an easy style to maintain - just wash and wear and out the door in the morning to teach. The whole cut was done with a razor, so maybe I was having my hair filed.

P.S. We have some great comedians here! Who says historians are stodgy old bookworms? And, Maddie, I hate emoticons, but your little green one above is great.

[MaddieM]

Aw....

[Gene C]

I'm not sure a "Pixie Cut" is a style someone would want in prison