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Ed Marlow brought some old photos into his barbershop many decades ago. People starting adding to his collection. Even when he changed locations, customers kept bringing them; he pinned them to the wall. “It just mushroomed,” said Marlow. He thinks he has “probably the biggest collection around.”

Some of those historical photographs are displayed in the Skagit County Historical Museum’s new exhibit, “More than Just a Little Off the Top: Barbershop Historians,” which opened Oct. 5.

Marlow was an honored guest Thursday. He greeted old friends, including the son of a man with whom he cut hair. He told stories about his barbering years, such as how he left a large, tail-shaped patch of hair on one obnoxious, drunk customer. “I just got fed up,” he said. A photo proving it happened adorns the wall. It is one of many snapshots bringing alive Skagit barbering history.

As Marlow with his full head of white hair held forth in one corner, more than 75 local residents moved throughout temporary exhibit room at the museum.

The idea for the exhibit sparked because the museum staff had previously borrowed from Marlow’s collection and that of another county barber and historical photo collector, Roger Fox.

On the walls and in display cases, artifacts and photographs tell the history of barbering, the history of Skagit County and the history of barbering in Skagit County. This represents “a lot of work by a lot of people,” said Mari Densmore, exhibit curator and museum archivist. This rich and fascinating history includes items from the museum’s permanent record.

At the center of the room is a replica barbershop, complete with chair, clippers, brushes, scissors, razor strop and more. Its walls are appropriately covered in black-and-white photos of logging and local communities. Display cases contain collections of brushes, razors and custom- and locally-made mugs, reminders that shaving accompanied many haircuts in decades past.

In her introduction, museum Director Jo Wolfe highlighted many in attendance who still cut hair in the county. One wall is devoted to these modern-day barbers. They continue the long practice of barbershops being social centers for communities.

The younger barbers at the opening never expected their work would land them in a museum. “We’re just going to work,” said Brady Parker, Dr. J’s Barber Shop in Burlington.

Barbering as something museum-worthy may surprise them, but they recognize their work falls in a long line of history. Parker and Tyler Long started going to Dr. J’s before either started working there. “The vibe was always super cool,” said Long. Now, as they cut hair, they consider the antique barber chairs at the shop and wonder how many people have sat it them. It connects them to the past.

Travis Switalski operates The Temple of Groom shop in Anacortes. When Switalski told his grandpa, who was a police officer, that he was opening a barbershop, his grandpa told him free haircuts for police officers and firefighters in uniform were required. Customs have changed and that is no longer allowed, but it helped Switalski feel like he was “part of something” with a long tradition. People bring him old strops or mugs and he is always looking in antique stores for artifacts. His daughter works with him, so perhaps this tradition will continue.

At the opening, “More than Just a Little Off the Top,” like barbershops, brought people together to celebrate the past and community. It is on display into 2024.

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