Born between 1846 and 1865, the Sutherland sisters named Sarah, Victoria, Isabella, Grace, Naomi, Dora and Mary were the biggest stars – think Beyonce, Miley Cyrus or the Kardashians – of their era. They were said to be talented at playing the instruments and singing. But no one really cared about that. People came to see their luscious, magical 37 feet of hair.
Raised in a small log cabin in Niagara County, New York State, the Sutherland sisters’ celebrity status brought them riches beyond their wildest imaginations. P.T. Barnum called them “the seven most pleasing wonders of the world,” and the most popular, sexiest performing attractions in The Greatest Show on Earth.
Here are some of the incredible photographs of the amazing seven Sutherland sisters:
The seven Sutherland Sisters, Sarah, Victoria, Isabella, Grace, Naomi, Mary and Dora photographed with their father Reverend Fletcher in 1894.
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The Sutherland sisters from behind.
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Victoria Sutherland (1849 – 1902)
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Isabella Sutherland (1852 – 1914)
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Sarah Sutherland (1845 – 1919)
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Grace Sutherland (1854 – 1946)
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Naomi Sutherland (1858 – 1893)
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Dora “Kitty” Sutherland (1858 – ?)
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Mary Sutherland (? – 1939)
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Mary was the youngest and least musically talented and emotionally stable of the sisters. The Rev. Fletcher Sutherland developed the hair tonic that made his famous daughters rich.
Peachridge Glass / The Erie Canal Discovery Center
1880s Flyer Ad for Sutherland Sisters.
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An advertisement featuring the reverend sold the Seven Sutherland Sisters Hair Grower as a miracle cure for balding.
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A rare Hair Grower bottle posted by Tami Barber at Bottle Collectors on Facebook.
Peachridge Glass
The Sutherland Sisters appealed to Edwardians with their “It’s the Hair—not the Hat” motto.
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A Sutherland ad from the 1910s attempted to adopt their product to the new bobbed hairstyles of the time.
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The box for a bottle of the Seven Sutherland Sisters Hair Fertilizer.
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A 1984 advert for a bottle of Hair Grower.
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