Movember and No Shave November Mustaches from the Archives of American Gardens

In honor of Movember and No Shave November, the Archives of American Gardens' honors the men behind some of America's most unique parks and gardens. These men sport some great facial hair!

This autochrome shows Alfred D. Robinson surrounded by his prized begonias at his home, Rosecroft, in San Diego, California. Robinson cultivated hundreds of varieties of begonias and was also a founder and first president of the San Diego Floral Association. The garden surrounding Robinson’s home sat on ten acres of land which has now been subdivided into multiple properties. Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Garden Club of America Collection. (AAG# CA142001)

Two gardeners creating a carpet bedding design at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut, America’s first municipal rose garden, early 20th century. Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, J. Horace McFarland Collection. (AAG# CT060001)

Charles Sprague Sargent, pictured here examining Quercus (oak) herbarium specimens, was appointed director of Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum in 1872. Sargent collaborated with well-known landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the arboretum creating a space for exceptional research and recreation. Photo by T.E. Marr, 1904. Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, J. Horace McFarland Collection. (AAG# MA033024)

Catherine Bell
Archives of American Gardens 2014 Intern
Smithsonian Gardens

No Shave November

Alexander Graham Bell,
Smithsonian Institution Archives,
Negative Number: MAH-58254.

John Wesley Powell,
Smithsonian Institution Archives, 
Negative Number: MAH-58254.

You may have noticed that some of the men in your life have been sporting much more facial hair than usual these days. Guys everywhere have abandoned the clean shaven look not because it is playoff time, but because it is November. In the past few years, November has not only become known for Thanksgiving and football, but for beards, mustaches and goatees. “No shave November” is an annual event, where guys grow facial hair for a variety of charities. So gentlemen, while the month is in full swing and by now you have probably gone past the stubble phase, you might need some ideas on how to style your new look. Well, the Smithsonian is the place for you! Within the Smithsonian Institution’s collections you can find inspiring beards, mustaches and goatees. We even have a dedicated Pinterest board to Smithsonian ‘Staches.

Happy ‘Staching!

Courtney Bellizzi
Smithsonian Institution Archives