George Washington, Alexander Hamilton Hair On Display In Danville For Veterans Day

DANVILLE, CA — Tiny fragments of hair believed to have belonged to George Washington and Alexander Hamilton will be on display Wednesday at the Danville Veterans Memorial Building for their Veterans Day celebration.

Robert Sada, the chair of the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Library and Historical Collections Committee, told Patch that he bought the small pieces of a single strand of hair from Louis Mushro, a Michigan dealer who sells hair attributed to everyone from Beethoven to Napoleon to John F. Kennedy. Both locks will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Building, alongside a number of other items from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Spanish-American War.

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The hair from George Washington originates to the Custis-Powell family, according to documentation Sada sent. The materials include a handwritten note dating to around 1845, which identifies the hair as Washington's and traces it to the Custis-Powell family, a prominent Virginia family with ties to Washington.

The Alexander Hamilton hair is said to have originated in a collection associated with Jonathan Trumbull Jr., who served as secretary to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The collection was sold at an auction held by the New York Historical Society in the late 19th century, remained in a private family's possession for decades, and sold at an auction in Washington, D.C. in 1998. In an August 1998 letter, antiquarian bookseller and appraiser Allan J. Stypeck said he believed the collection contained authentic hair from Hamilton, Trumbull, and members of their families.

The exhibition will also feature a Boston newspaper dating to 1778, with a masthead attributed to Paul Revere. "One interesting item to note is that the most rare item of all of them is probably the 1778 Revolutionary War newspaper from Boston with the masthead designed by Paul Revere and I recall there may be a mention of Valley Forge in the inside of the newspaper," Sada said.

Sada also said that he will have more authenticating documents at the exhibit Wednesday for anyone who is interested.

The exhibit is part of a larger Veterans Day commemoration taking place throughout the day. From 7:30 to 10 a.m., all veterans and their families can enjoy a free Veterans Pancake breakfast on the second floor of the Veterans Wing of the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley at 400 Hartz Avenue.

The Veterans Day Observance will begin at 11 a.m. in the main hall. The Sons of the American Revolution will present the American flag, followed by patriotic songs from the Monte Vista High School Choir.

Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich will speak about his personal experiences with veterans. Featured speaker Bill Green, who has presented at many local schools, will give insight into his life and times with the army.

At 4:40 p.m., the community is invited to gather outside the flagpole at the corner of Hartz and East Prospect Avenue for the Mount Diablo Beacon Lighting Ceremony.