George Washington’s Hair Found in 18th Century Book

Someone at Union College in upstate New York recently looked through an old book owned by the library and found a strand of George Washington's hair.

An almanac was found during an inventory review in the college's library with some white hair tucked into its pages. The leather book is titled "Gaines Universal Register or American and British Kalendar for the Year 1793.”

It's believed that the book belonged to the son of Gen. Philip Schuyler who founded the college and was a close friend of Washington's. Back in the 1700s, it wasn't uncommon to give a strand of hair to close friends.

The almanac is filled with handwritten notes from Schuyler, including an envelope that says: “Washington's hair, L.S.S. & (scratched out) GBS from James A. Hamilton given him by his mother, Aug. 10, 1871.”

College officials confirm that the hair inside is indeed Washington's and he did not wear a wig, contrary to popular belief.

Read more at Union College.