Embroidered sampler 1838

This embroidered sampler was created by Susan Bushey in Chariton County, Missouri, in 1838. It is representative of the kind of needlework that young women created as demonstrations of their skills and knowledge. Looking closely, we see a combination of religious and educational references combined with naturalistic imagery. The text mentions the Methodist Church, St. Louis, and Brunswick School. The stitched image of a two-story house surrounded by trees and birds indicates something about the cultural values of the time. In 19th-century America, Protestantism, education, and domesticity were strongly associated. These ‘virtues’ provided a way for families to climb the social ladder. The sampler speaks to the way that institutions in the early United States sought to shape individual identities and behaviors. To understand this piece better, we could consult local histories of Chariton County, church records, and educational archives. This helps us understand the meaning of art as contingent on social and institutional context.