Mrs. J.C. McGavran
She Operated Beauty Shops Here 55 Years.
Mrs. Mary B. McGavran, an operator of beauty shops here 55 years, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 3734 Walnut street. Mrs. McGravan had been ill about a year.
Mrs. McGavran opened her first shop in 1904 at 1114 Main street, when there were only four other beauty shops in the city. There now are more than 500. The first shop was opened in the office of her husband, the late Dr. J.C. McGavran.
When J.C. Nichols began the development of the country Club Plaza, he asked Mrs. McGavran to open a shop there. In 1934, she opened her present shop, the Maria Earle Beauty salon, at 314 Ward parkway.
For 30 years, she operated a shop in the old Baltimore hotel.
Mrs. McGavran, a native of Jefferson City, was the last living charter member of the Woman's Chamber of Commerce. She was also a charter member of the Women's City club. She formerly was president six consecutive years of the American Cosmetician association.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist church, the Zonta club, the National Hairdressers association and the Kansas City Art Institute.
A nephew, Samuel Love, Vinita Okla., and a niece, Mrs. W.H. Woods survive.
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When she married Dr. J.C. McGavran, a widower with five children, she was a girl of less than 20 with gleaming auburn hair that reached far below the waist. Her husband gazed admiringly, but critically, at her long tresses. "Your hair should be cut short," he said. "It takes too much blood to nourish such heavy, long hair." His wife timidly protested that no one had short hair, but yield to the judgement of her husband who was twenty-two years her senior. "My husband's barber came to our home and set to work with his shears," Mrs. McGavran said. "I fought back the tears as the shorn locks showered about me. He shingled my hair halfway up the back of the head but at my suggestion left me a fluffy bang and enough hair for softness over the ears. The new style really was very becoming but I wondered what the neighbors would think!" The coiffure first brought gasps from her friends then admiration and the desire to copy. Many Lamar women sidestepped family protestations to follow the style, she said. "Then we learned that Miss Rose Cleveland, who was serving as hostess for her brother, President Grover Cleveland, then in his first term in the White House, had bobbed her hair," Mrs. McGavran commented, "The day was saved for us!"
*******************************
When the bobbed hair craze struck the fashion world in the 1920s, the beauty shop industry grew rapidly. The development of permanent waving brought eager seekers after this new magic way to beauty. While there is argument over where the credit belongs for the discovering of the permanent wave process, Charles Nesslar of London is accepted by many as the originator. Mrs. McGavran recalled that when she heard of the work of Nesslar in London in 1912, she wrote to Nesslar to inquire if a demonstration of his new machine was planned in this country. Such a demonstration later was held in New York, which the Kansas Citian attended. The trip resulted in her purchasing a permanent waving machine in 1913. This was the first one in Kansas City, she said. The charge for the service was $2 a curl and with the long hair which was the fashion the price ran into handsome totals. The process often took an entire day and the results were frizzy masses of hair which would be scorned in this day of soft, natural waves. But frizzy or not, the women loved it.
Article in the Kansas City Star Newspaper dated June 18, 1950:
She Operated Beauty Shops Here 55 Years.
Mrs. Mary B. McGavran, an operator of beauty shops here 55 years, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 3734 Walnut street. Mrs. McGravan had been ill about a year.
Mrs. McGavran opened her first shop in 1904 at 1114 Main street, when there were only four other beauty shops in the city. There now are more than 500. The first shop was opened in the office of her husband, the late Dr. J.C. McGavran.
When J.C. Nichols began the development of the country Club Plaza, he asked Mrs. McGavran to open a shop there. In 1934, she opened her present shop, the Maria Earle Beauty salon, at 314 Ward parkway.
For 30 years, she operated a shop in the old Baltimore hotel.
Mrs. McGavran, a native of Jefferson City, was the last living charter member of the Woman's Chamber of Commerce. She was also a charter member of the Women's City club. She formerly was president six consecutive years of the American Cosmetician association.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist church, the Zonta club, the National Hairdressers association and the Kansas City Art Institute.
A nephew, Samuel Love, Vinita Okla., and a niece, Mrs. W.H. Woods survive.
*********************************
When she married Dr. J.C. McGavran, a widower with five children, she was a girl of less than 20 with gleaming auburn hair that reached far below the waist. Her husband gazed admiringly, but critically, at her long tresses. "Your hair should be cut short," he said. "It takes too much blood to nourish such heavy, long hair." His wife timidly protested that no one had short hair, but yield to the judgement of her husband who was twenty-two years her senior. "My husband's barber came to our home and set to work with his shears," Mrs. McGavran said. "I fought back the tears as the shorn locks showered about me. He shingled my hair halfway up the back of the head but at my suggestion left me a fluffy bang and enough hair for softness over the ears. The new style really was very becoming but I wondered what the neighbors would think!" The coiffure first brought gasps from her friends then admiration and the desire to copy. Many Lamar women sidestepped family protestations to follow the style, she said. "Then we learned that Miss Rose Cleveland, who was serving as hostess for her brother, President Grover Cleveland, then in his first term in the White House, had bobbed her hair," Mrs. McGavran commented, "The day was saved for us!"
*******************************
When the bobbed hair craze struck the fashion world in the 1920s, the beauty shop industry grew rapidly. The development of permanent waving brought eager seekers after this new magic way to beauty. While there is argument over where the credit belongs for the discovering of the permanent wave process, Charles Nesslar of London is accepted by many as the originator. Mrs. McGavran recalled that when she heard of the work of Nesslar in London in 1912, she wrote to Nesslar to inquire if a demonstration of his new machine was planned in this country. Such a demonstration later was held in New York, which the Kansas Citian attended. The trip resulted in her purchasing a permanent waving machine in 1913. This was the first one in Kansas City, she said. The charge for the service was $2 a curl and with the long hair which was the fashion the price ran into handsome totals. The process often took an entire day and the results were frizzy masses of hair which would be scorned in this day of soft, natural waves. But frizzy or not, the women loved it.
Article in the Kansas City Star Newspaper dated June 18, 1950:
Mrs. J.C. McGavran
She Operated Beauty Shops Here 55 Years.
Mrs. Mary B. McGavran, an operator of beauty shops here 55 years, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 3734 Walnut street. Mrs. McGravan had been ill about a year.
Mrs. McGavran opened her first shop in 1904 at 1114 Main street, when there were only four other beauty shops in the city. There now are more than 500. The first shop was opened in the office of her husband, the late Dr. J.C. McGavran.
When J.C. Nichols began the development of the country Club Plaza, he asked Mrs. McGavran to open a shop there. In 1934, she opened her present shop, the Maria Earle Beauty salon, at 314 Ward parkway.
For 30 years, she operated a shop in the old Baltimore hotel.
Mrs. McGavran, a native of Jefferson City, was the last living charter member of the Woman's Chamber of Commerce. She was also a charter member of the Women's City club. She formerly was president six consecutive years of the American Cosmetician association.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist church, the Zonta club, the National Hairdressers association and the Kansas City Art Institute.
A nephew, Samuel Love, Vinita Okla., and a niece, Mrs. W.H. Woods survive.
*********************************
When she married Dr. J.C. McGavran, a widower with five children, she was a girl of less than 20 with gleaming auburn hair that reached far below the waist. Her husband gazed admiringly, but critically, at her long tresses. "Your hair should be cut short," he said. "It takes too much blood to nourish such heavy, long hair." His wife timidly protested that no one had short hair, but yield to the judgement of her husband who was twenty-two years her senior. "My husband's barber came to our home and set to work with his shears," Mrs. McGavran said. "I fought back the tears as the shorn locks showered about me. He shingled my hair halfway up the back of the head but at my suggestion left me a fluffy bang and enough hair for softness over the ears. The new style really was very becoming but I wondered what the neighbors would think!" The coiffure first brought gasps from her friends then admiration and the desire to copy. Many Lamar women sidestepped family protestations to follow the style, she said. "Then we learned that Miss Rose Cleveland, who was serving as hostess for her brother, President Grover Cleveland, then in his first term in the White House, had bobbed her hair," Mrs. McGavran commented, "The day was saved for us!"
*******************************
When the bobbed hair craze struck the fashion world in the 1920s, the beauty shop industry grew rapidly. The development of permanent waving brought eager seekers after this new magic way to beauty. While there is argument over where the credit belongs for the discovering of the permanent wave process, Charles Nesslar of London is accepted by many as the originator. Mrs. McGavran recalled that when she heard of the work of Nesslar in London in 1912, she wrote to Nesslar to inquire if a demonstration of his new machine was planned in this country. Such a demonstration later was held in New York, which the Kansas Citian attended. The trip resulted in her purchasing a permanent waving machine in 1913. This was the first one in Kansas City, she said. The charge for the service was $2 a curl and with the long hair which was the fashion the price ran into handsome totals. The process often took an entire day and the results were frizzy masses of hair which would be scorned in this day of soft, natural waves. But frizzy or not, the women loved it.
Article in the Kansas City Star Newspaper dated June 18, 1950:
She Operated Beauty Shops Here 55 Years.
Mrs. Mary B. McGavran, an operator of beauty shops here 55 years, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 3734 Walnut street. Mrs. McGravan had been ill about a year.
Mrs. McGavran opened her first shop in 1904 at 1114 Main street, when there were only four other beauty shops in the city. There now are more than 500. The first shop was opened in the office of her husband, the late Dr. J.C. McGavran.
When J.C. Nichols began the development of the country Club Plaza, he asked Mrs. McGavran to open a shop there. In 1934, she opened her present shop, the Maria Earle Beauty salon, at 314 Ward parkway.
For 30 years, she operated a shop in the old Baltimore hotel.
Mrs. McGavran, a native of Jefferson City, was the last living charter member of the Woman's Chamber of Commerce. She was also a charter member of the Women's City club. She formerly was president six consecutive years of the American Cosmetician association.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist church, the Zonta club, the National Hairdressers association and the Kansas City Art Institute.
A nephew, Samuel Love, Vinita Okla., and a niece, Mrs. W.H. Woods survive.
*********************************
When she married Dr. J.C. McGavran, a widower with five children, she was a girl of less than 20 with gleaming auburn hair that reached far below the waist. Her husband gazed admiringly, but critically, at her long tresses. "Your hair should be cut short," he said. "It takes too much blood to nourish such heavy, long hair." His wife timidly protested that no one had short hair, but yield to the judgement of her husband who was twenty-two years her senior. "My husband's barber came to our home and set to work with his shears," Mrs. McGavran said. "I fought back the tears as the shorn locks showered about me. He shingled my hair halfway up the back of the head but at my suggestion left me a fluffy bang and enough hair for softness over the ears. The new style really was very becoming but I wondered what the neighbors would think!" The coiffure first brought gasps from her friends then admiration and the desire to copy. Many Lamar women sidestepped family protestations to follow the style, she said. "Then we learned that Miss Rose Cleveland, who was serving as hostess for her brother, President Grover Cleveland, then in his first term in the White House, had bobbed her hair," Mrs. McGavran commented, "The day was saved for us!"
*******************************
When the bobbed hair craze struck the fashion world in the 1920s, the beauty shop industry grew rapidly. The development of permanent waving brought eager seekers after this new magic way to beauty. While there is argument over where the credit belongs for the discovering of the permanent wave process, Charles Nesslar of London is accepted by many as the originator. Mrs. McGavran recalled that when she heard of the work of Nesslar in London in 1912, she wrote to Nesslar to inquire if a demonstration of his new machine was planned in this country. Such a demonstration later was held in New York, which the Kansas Citian attended. The trip resulted in her purchasing a permanent waving machine in 1913. This was the first one in Kansas City, she said. The charge for the service was $2 a curl and with the long hair which was the fashion the price ran into handsome totals. The process often took an entire day and the results were frizzy masses of hair which would be scorned in this day of soft, natural waves. But frizzy or not, the women loved it.
Article in the Kansas City Star Newspaper dated June 18, 1950:
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