History Made Visible: The Legacy of Thousands of Schoolgirl Samplers

By Alexandra Peters, Historian and Collector

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 Remarkable for their inventiveness and beauty, needlework samplers are appreciated now as historical documents written by girls on silk and linen with needles.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.

In collaboration with the Phelps-Hatheway House 

📍 Suffield Senior Center, 145 Bridge Street

💻 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 850 0422 3650
Password: History!