Contributed by United Society of Shakers
Description
Pictured from left to right: back row: Sisters Ada Cummings, Nellie Love and Sarah Fletcher middle row: Sisters Amanda Stickney, Elizabeth Haskell, Aurelia Mace, Eldress Harriet Goodwin and Laura Love; front row: Fannie Simpson and Lizzie Bailey.
Jennie Eastman was a photographer from Boston who visited the community on several occasions. According to the Sabbathday Lake Church Journal, on this day she photographed the Sisters individually, as well as in a group.
Having subjects glance in different directions was a common convention of Victorian photography.
Note the habits worn by the Sisters, particularly the variety of designs and patterns. Shaker dress was neither drab nor entirely uniform. Especially colorful were kerchiefs like the one worn by Eldress Harriet.
By this time, however, most Sisters preferred to wear a yoke over the shoulders rather than a kerchief. Another alteration of the costume took place in the mid-1890s when wearing the bonnet became optional.
About This Item
- Title: Shaker group portrait, ca. 1893
- Creator: Jennie Eastman
- Creation Date: circa 1893
- Subject Date: 1889-08-15
- Location: Sabbathday Lake, New Gloucester, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Slide from a photograph
- Local Code: ITE 12
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Christian communities
- Shakers--Clothing & dress
- United Society of Shakers--Maine--New Gloucester--Sabbathday Lake
- Shakers--Social life and customs
- Shakers--History
- Shakers--Missions--Maine--Sabbathday Lake
People
- Bailey, Lizzie
- Cummings, Ada
- Fletcher, Sarah
- Goodwin, Harriet
- Haskell, Elizabeth
- Love, Laura
- Love, Nellie
- Mace, Aurelia
- Simpson, Fannie
- Stickney, Amanda
Other Keywords
- Agriculture
- Alfred
- Buildings
- Delmer Charles Wilson
- Farm
- New Hampshire
- People
- Photography
- Portland
- Portraits
- Religion
- Religion & philosophy
- Religious community
- Shaker
- Woman
- Women
For more information about this item, contact:
United Society of Shakers707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 926-4597
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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