The John B. Stetson Company will celebrate its 160th anniversary at Stetson University, displaying rarely seen personal items of legendary hatmaker John B. Stetson and a stunning collection of stylish hats through the years.

The exhibit, “Style, Substance and Stetson Hats: The Legacy of the John B. Stetson Company,” will be on display Oct. 21 – Dec. 6 in the Hand Art Center and duPont-Ball Library. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The display will explore John B. Stetson’s vision and entrepreneurial skills. When Mr. Stetson crafted the “Boss of the Plains” in 1865, he created a lasting symbol for the rugged spirit of the American West. His company grew from a single-room workshop in Philadelphia into the largest hat producer in the world by the early 20th century.

Known for his family values and philanthropy, Mr. Stetson built a winter estate in DeLand in the 1880s and donated generously to what was then-called DeLand University. The school was renamed in his honor in 1889 and Mr. Stetson, who served as President of its Board of Trustees, frequently spent time on campus until his death in DeLand in 1906.

On display will be some of Mr. Stetson’s personal items, such as an antique silver desk set bearing the inscription, “John B. Stetson, May 5, 1892,” the date of his 62nd birthday. Many Stetson hats will be on exhibit, including sombreros and bowler hats that belonged to G. Henry Stetson, the hatmaker’s youngest son.

For more than a century, the university has maintained ties with Mr. Stetson’s descendants and the company he created. Through the years, they have donated a vast collection of memorabilia to the University Archives. The upcoming exhibit will provide a rare chance for the public to see these treasures, said University Archivist Elizabeth Maycumber, who curated the exhibit.

The brand Mr. Stetson built remains an icon of Americana, 160 years after he designed the Boss of the Plains. Today, the company continues to innovate through new designs and collaborations with artists like Beyoncé, Post Malone and Bruno Mars. This continuum of style and craftsmanship will be on display in the upcoming exhibit.

Exhibit: Style, Substance and Stetson Hats: The Legacy of the John B. Stetson Company

When: Oct. 21 – Dec. 6, 2025
• An opening reception is set for Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., along with the John B. Stetson Company’s 160th Anniversary Party in Palm Court from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Stetson University Archivist Elizabeth Maycumber will lead a Curator Tour on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.

Where: The Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center and Gallery duPont in the duPont-Ball Library

Admission: Free

Highlights: Stetson and the Stetson University Archives will display rarely seen photographs, personal effects of John B. Stetson, and many hat styles through the years. The company is releasing a new coffee table book, Stetson: American Icon (Rizzoli), which highlights 160 years of history, craftsmanship and culture.
For more info: Visit handartcenter.org

The exhibit is sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the duPont-Ball Library and loaned materials from the John B. Stetson Company.

— Stetson Today