Many memorials in the 19th century were made of the deceased hair.

"You knew that you were never going to see them again... and contemplating their hair or at least having something that represented a part of that person was a way of simulating a kind of closeness and a kind of intimacy." said Dr. Robert Archibald.

It may seem strange to us today but in the 1800's death was much more a part of life. This meant those kinds of memorials were as well. But, hair work was practiced not just by the grief stricken.

"It probably was not all that unusual a request and so they would not have been embarrassed by the request at all because it probably was a fairly common request received by people of stature from all over the country." said Dr. Robert Archibald.

Though it may seem a bit macabre some see these artifacts as art.

Of all the locks of hair in the Missouri history museum's collection perhaps the most famous was only recently discovered. Which probably would have left the person it came from feeling a little slighted. His name was Napoleon Bonaparte.