Artifact Spotlight: B.F. McDONALD CO. Aluminum Hard Hat

Logging hard hats like the one pictured on the right  were used in the forests of Humboldt County by the thousands of men who worked in the logging industry from the 1940s into the 1980s. They are made of aluminum with an inner support system made of cotton thread and leather, to provide space between the logger's head and the helmet. They were originally modeled after helmets worn by soldiers in WWI. Over time, the aluminum hard hat has grown to represent more than workplace safety, but a way of life rooted in a place dependent on the forests for a livelihood.

Cat #: 2004.108.157

Logging has historically been known as one of the most dangerous trades to be part of, due to the sometimes unpredictable type of work. Falling branches, broken tools, and operator error were hazards of the trade that could (and did) gravely injure or kill workers. The development and use of the Hard Hat helped to protect workers from many of the dangers of working as a logger. Above, you can see a picture of two workers in a tractor, both wearing aluminum hard hats similar to the one in the museum collection.

Georgia-Pacific Logger with Chainsaw and Aluminum Hard Hat. HSU Humboldt Room, Boyle Collection Cat #:1999.03.0691

The Hard Hats, symbolic of an industry integral to Humboldt County, also appear in the protests surrounding the expansion of Redwood National Park in 1978, pictured below. This protest was part of a larger event which consisted of a a group of redwood loggers driving their loaded logging trucks from Humboldt County to Washington DC to protest at the Capitol. This journey was documented in the film "Enough is Enough", which can be viewed online for free here. 

Photo from protests against the 1978 expansion of Redwood National Park. Dolores Seaman Collection, Cat #: 2004.108.222

Today, these hard hats still have their presence among people linked to the logging community of the mid 20th century, as the helmets appear as part of Humboldt State's Logging Sports contingent that appear and participate in the HSU Football games by dressing as Lumberjacks and revving chainsaws.

Nick Bollier, HSU Logging Sports Team, pictured in a 2012 New York Time Article titled "At Humboldt State, Revved Up for Success"

Keep an eye out for this hard hat in our upcoming exhibit The Redwoods Provide(d): The Story of Redwood National and State Parks, opening July 7, 2018

Information for this article was found:
Bullard's Hard Hats