Samplers, Girls, and the American Experiment
Girls’ samplers reflect what the young United States of America aspired to become: a virtuous republic full of educated and industrious people. Vermont became the 14th state in 1791, a time when the success of the “American experiment” was in no way guaranteed. Education was understood to be the foundation of a successful democracy, but the role of women and their education was hotly debated. Stitched samplers were created by girls as lessons in needlework, literacy, and moral behavior. Like all schoolwork, they reflect the values of the society in which they were made.
How have the ideals displayed in girls’ needlework 200 years ago shaped the America we know today?
How are young girls treated differently/ the same?
What might a modern “sampler” look like?
From Bennington to Brownington:
The 2025 Vermont Sampler Driving Tour
Who: The VT Sampler Initiative, a 501-c-3 entity, in cooperation with the national Sampler Archive has been documenting Vermont 19th century schoolgirl samplers since November 2022. To date, close to 800 such samplers have been located and documented using volunteer documenters and professional photography.
WHAT: The VT Sampler Initiative is now producing a statewide driving tour, to view collections of these post-Revolutionary War samplers, in cooperation with the Nationwide semi-quincentennial celebration of the American Revolution.
WHEN: The dates of the driving tour coincide with the statewide celebration of our national semi-quincentennial celebration, from Memorial Day, May 2025 – Columbus Day, October 2025, for most sites.
WHERE: Beginning at a sampler exhibit at Bennington Museum in 2025, 20 statewide pre-identified sites, such as museums, art galleries, libraries and historical societies will be added to this core exhibit, inviting Vermont visitors to the State to explore additional communities in Vermont, to view these examples of schoolgirl needlework. Please see the Vermont 250th website for more details.
WHY: The story of our Revolutionary War generation having fought the war for our independence, and then having relocated to Vermont to live their lives, is one that can be illustrated by studying the lives of their descendants. The values, artistry and degrees of hardship and success of these families are often conveyed by the girls who produced these samplers. They are almost always the progeny – daughters and granddaughters – of the Revolutionary War generation – and their stories are many and unique!
See the below map of the sites located throughout Vermont, and check their websites.
- Bennington Museum
- Dorset Village Library
- Chaffee Art Center
- Henry Sheldon Museum
- DAR John Strong Mansion
- Rokeby Museum
- Shelburne Museum
- Aldrich Library
- Vt Historical Society
- Ainsworth Library
- Danville Historical Society
- Peacham Public Library
- Johnsbury History Center
- Old Stone House Museum
- Thetford Historical Society
- Woodstock History Ctr.
- Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
- Weston Historical Society
- Grafton Historical Society
- Westminster Hist Society
- Putney Public Library