Shakers: religion and art

1. Dr D’Ann Campbell TAH 2008 Shakers: religion and art

2. Geography: 1790-1840 Shakers Originated In England But all came To USA Center was in New England & New York Additional colonies in Ohio & Kentucky National Park Service Guide

3. 1770s: under 20 1800 a few thousand 1840: 6,000 full members in 19 villages New members? No babies Women age 18-40 Orphans; some joined and most left for the world Today: small handful in Maine How Many?

4. Life Style • The Shakers lived in community villages • Everyone of all ages had a job to do • Men and women lived apart • No children were born there—but orphans were often brought in from outside • When an orphan became 21 he or she could decide to stay on

5. Hancock Village (Massachusetts) Hancock website

7. Canterbury NH • They grew their own food • They were famous for their seeds, which they sold all across the country • They were pacifists and did not fight in Civil War, but set up hospitals

8. Shaker design is famous because it is simple, it works, and it is beautiful

9. Simplicity, Symmetry

10. Functional, simple, clean design more pictures

11. Influential furniture Lesson plan: furniture

13. Shakers were a religious group; their ceremonies included songs and a sacred dance

16. Religious Music Learn More more on music Lesson plan for "Gift to be Simple" song (grade 5-8)

17. Shaker Women: more equality than anywhere else in America • Women in Utopia (Campbell) • Mother Ann Lee (the founder)

19. Sources Ken Burns video for PBS Timeline Brief history

20. On Line Sources • Overview • Shaker Theology • 1859 Compendium • 15 Years a Shakeress (1872 memoir) • Autobiography (1869) • Travel account by novelist Howells (1876) • Interpretation by German scholar (1974) • Architecture & style (by Swank)