Treasures from Our West: Buffalo Bill’s shaving mug

Originally published in Points West magazine in Spring 2009

William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s shaving mug

This shaving mug belonged to William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and is personalized with both his names. “Col. W.F. Cody” is lettered in gold Old English script around the upper edge of the mug. Centered along the bottom edge in relatively plain capital letters is his famous nickname “Buffalo Bill” which appears to have been added at a later date.

In the center of the mug is the symbol for the 32nd degree Scottish Rite Masons of which Cody was a member. It includes the Latin words “SPES MEA IN DED EST” which mean “My hope is in God.” The manufacturer’s information on the bottom of the mug reads: “KOKEN BARBER’S SUPPLY CO./ST. LOUIS,/U.S.A.”

The mug was donated by Effie Shaw, early Cody resident and mother of former Chairman of the Board of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Margaret Shaw “Peg” Coe. At the time of the gift, the mug was said to have been used at Judge Walter Owens’ barber shop, located in the basement of the Shoshone Bank (now Wells Fargo) building on Sheridan Avenue, the main street of Cody, Wyoming. There is a photograph of the interior of the barber shop in A.G. Luciers Pictorial Souvenir of Cody, Wyoming, showing all the mugs lined up in a cabinet. Unfortunately, the photo cannot be adequately enhanced to determine whether or not Buffalo Bill’s is among them. Perhaps, at a later date, another photo will surface and provide us with the answer.

Shaving mug. Gift of Effie Shaw. 1.69.144

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