Mourning Maine’s Dead: Victorian Hair Jewelry & Crafts

Sun Feb 22 2026 at 03:00 pm to 04:00 pm UTC-05:00

505 Main St | Sanford

Sanford-Springvale Historical Society
Publisher/HostSanford-Springvale Historical Society
Mourning Maine\u2019s Dead: Victorian Hair Jewelry & Crafts
Advertisement
Presented by Elizabeth DeWolfe.
About this Event

In 19th-century Maine, death was ever present. To grapple with loss, Victorian-era Mainers turned to art and craft to mourn and remember their loved ones. Their material of choice was human hair. Mary Baker made a good living crafting flowers, wreaths, and jewelry from human hair. Her Portland home-based business tapped into a national craze for Victorian hair jewelry, which not only memorialized the dead but also connected the living. From snips of a loved one’s hair in a locket, to braided hair friendship rings exchanged between schoolgirls, to a large-scale wreath of flowers containing the hair of an entire family, Mainers embraced hair art as a symbol of mourning the dead and celebrating the living.

EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Doors Open: 2:15 PM
Event Starts: 3:00 PM
Address: Historical Museum, 505 Main Street, Springvale, ME
The museum is handicapped accessible.

FREE ADMISSION
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance is not required but does help us prepare for the number of attendees. For questions, please call 207-490-1028 or email [email protected].

This lecture is generously supported and sponsored by: Harry A. Mapes Charitable Trust, and Maine Humanities Council.

Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

505 Main St, 505 Main Street, Sanford, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Sanford

Wow, Score!!  Look at this-It\u2019s New Country Music at The Mill Towne Tavern
Sat, 21 Feb at 08:00 pm Wow, Score!! Look at this-It’s New Country Music at The Mill Towne Tavern

Mill Towne Tavern and Billiards

Business After Hours at Cruisin' Infusions
Thu, 26 Feb at 05:00 pm Business After Hours at Cruisin' Infusions

Cruisin' Infusions

HomeSchool General Music Classes
Fri, 27 Feb at 10:50 am HomeSchool General Music Classes

38 Westview Dr, Sanford, ME 04073-4215, United States

"Sing Us a Song" \/ Billy Joel tribute concert
Sat, 28 Feb at 07:00 pm "Sing Us a Song" / Billy Joel tribute concert

100 Alumni Blvd., Sanford, ME, United States, Maine 04073

A Coldplay Candlelight Experience In Sanford, ME\ud83d\udd6f\ufe0fSaturday 28th February
Sat, 28 Feb at 11:00 pm A Coldplay Candlelight Experience In Sanford, ME🕯️Saturday 28th February

Sanford Christian Academy

Robert Rogers of the Rangers
Sun, 01 Mar at 03:00 pm Robert Rogers of the Rangers

505 Main St

U.S. Navy Sea Chanters
Thu, 05 Mar at 07:00 pm U.S. Navy Sea Chanters

100 Alumni Blvd., Sanford, ME, United States, Maine 04073

Sanford is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Sanford Events