Introduction

See My Hat!

What is the purpose of a hat? When is it worn?

There are so many uses for the hat: dress-up hats, uniform hats, safety hats and fashion accessories. Hats are a form of shelter from the elements. Have hats changed over time? Have they always had the same purpose?

The See My Hat! online resource is an introduction to past and present life and how it is communicated through sources, such as photographs. It explores roles in the community and how daily life may have changed or stayed the same over time. Featuring photographs from the State Library of WA’s collections, See My Hat! introduces students to how photographs can be used as primary sources in historical inquiry.

This online resource can be used to extend students who have visited the State Library and participated in the Then and Now guided workshop, or it can be used as a stand-alone resource in the classroom. The content encourages students to ask further questions, reflect on their family history and make connections with their world.

See My Hat! incorporates a selection of suggested classroom activities and recommended resources to further challenge and engage students. It was produced to align with the Western Australian HaSS Curriculum.  

Disclaimer: Content warning

The State Library of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners of Country throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to land and culture.  We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. The Library is honoured to be located on Whadjuk Country, the ancestral lands of the Noongar people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this resource may contain images, names and references to deceased persons.