Contributed by United Society of Shakers
Description
Having been founded by a woman, Mother Ann Lee(s) (1736-1784), the Shakers have always believed in the "equality of the sexes in all departments of life."
In practice this meant women were entrusted with as much responsibility and authority as their male counterparts.
Pictured here are five Eldresses, Francella Blake (1843-1879) of Alfred's Second Family, Mary P. Vance (1845-1892) and Eliza R. Smith (1831-1899) of Alfred's Church Family, and Hester Ann Adams (1817-1888) and Mary Ann Gillespie (1829-1887) of the Maine Ministry.
Like its Sabbathday Lake counterpart, the Alfred Meeting House was designed by Brother Moses Johnson.
About This Item
- Title: Eldresses, Alfred Shaker Village, ca. 1879
- Creator: United Society of Shakers
- Creation Date: circa 1879
- Subject Date: circa 1879
- Location: Alfred, York County, ME
- Media: Slide from an original photograph
- Local Code: ITE 44
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Shakers--Social life and customs
- Meeting houses--Maine--Alfred
- Christian communities
- United Society of Shakers--Maine
- Shakers--History
- Shakers--Missions--Maine--Alfred
- Women
People
Other Keywords
- Agriculture
- Architecture, buildings & monuments
- Buildings
- Delmer Charles Wilson
- Farm
- New Gloucester
- New Hampshire
- People
- Photography
- Portland
- Portraits
- Religion
- Religion & philosophy
- Religious community
- Sabbathday Lake
- Shaker
For more information about this item, contact:
United Society of Shakers707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 926-4597
Website
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