Hat Corporation of America - 1935-1938 dated Hatmaker Stock Certificate - Great History

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John J. Cavanagh (January 16, 1864 – January 24, 1957) was a distinguished American hatmaker based in New York City. A Democratic mayor of South Norwalk and Norwalk, Connecticut, Cavanagh made a lasting impact on the hat industry through his leadership in both design and manufacturing for fifty years.

In 1932, he founded the Hat Corporation of America by merging his brands with Knox & Dunlap. Two years later, he established the Cavanagh Hat Research Corporation to advance materials and manufacturing techniques in the industry. Cavanagh is particularly noted for developing the Cavanagh Edge, a finishing method for hat brims, and for introducing regular, long, and wide-oval hat fittings, which improved the fit of ready-to-wear hats. His contributions were recognized in 1939 when he received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award.

After retiring in 1947 while keeping an honorary vice-presidency, Cavanagh passed away in 1957. His son, J. Garvan Cavanagh, succeeded him as vice president of the company but left in 1961 to become a Roman Catholic priest.

Al Webb, who joined the company post-World War II and became Vice President of Sales by 1961, was also a close friend of President John F. Kennedy. When Kennedy's aversion to wearing hats led to a decline in sales, Webb, at a 1961 PT reunion, told Kennedy he had harmed the American hat industry. In response, Kennedy began wearing Cavanagh Hats publicly, starting with a meeting with Dwight D. Eisenhower at Camp David on April 22, 1961.