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19th century
samplers at Pilgrim Hall Museum |
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After the American Revolution,
academies for young women become widespread. One of the foremost accomplishments taught at
these academies was needlework. Samplers were produced under the watchful eye of a
teacher. The format of the sampler was up to the individual schoolmistress and the more
decorative samplers were the product of more ambitious and more "social"
schools. |
Betsey Ellis Hutchinson sampler, 1831 |
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Education, in the 19th century, was
neither free nor a "right" – it was valued as a privilege and women were
proud of their achievements. Parents were very anxious for their daughters to be, and to
be SEEN to be, well-mannered and accomplished. A girl’s future marriage and her
economic well-being could depend on her acceptance into society. For this reason, all
private academies would have their girls produce fine samplers.
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Click HERE for Rebekah Rider and her sampler, 1820 |
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Click HERE for Betsey Ellis Hutchinson and her
sampler, 1831, and the Plymouth school of needlework |
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Click HERE for Saba Cushman and her sampler, 1832
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