ABCs of Samplers:
History Made Visible: The Legacy of Thousands of Schoolgirl Samplers
Presented by Alexandra Peters
Sunday, March 15, 2 p.m. at the Suffield Senior Center. In collaboration with the Phelps/Hatheway House/Connecticut Landmarks. In-Person and Zoom
Zoom Meeting
ID: 850 0422 3650
Password: History!
Zoom link also provided on SuffieldHistoricalSociety.org.
Historical Society King House Sampler
Where are the women in history? Rarely visible. But in the United States there exists an extraordinary legacy of American history: samplers stitched by girls, from the earliest arrival of western settlers on the Mayflower until the Industrial Revolution made sewing less critical. The samplers touch on everything from revolution to abolition, great literature and the westward movement, as well as births, death and family records.
Alexandra Peters, a collector and historian of schoolgirl needleworks, will talk about how these needleworks made before 1850 show us life before the Industrial Revolution, from the often-surprising perspective of young women. Remarkable for their inventiveness and beauty, needlework samplers are appreciated now as historical documents written by girls on silk and linen with needles. Because these samplers were always highly prized by families, thousands of them have survived, documenting the lives, education and creativity of girls.
Using slides from her own collection, Alexandra will show us the fascinating history of samplers, as well as touching on Suffield’s exceptional group of samplers.
Mini-Bus Tour:
Revolutionary Era Suffield
Saturday, April 4
Learn about some of the houses in the center of town which were standing during the Revolutionary War and when the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago.
$10 per person collected before boarding the bus. Two sessions at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Limited Registration. RSVP required at rsvphistory@gmail.com
In collaboration with Suffield Parks & Recreational Department.