Embroidered sampler 1825

This embroidered sampler was made by Elizabeth L. Smith, who was born in 1815. Samplers like this one were typically created by young women as demonstrations of their needlework skills. But let’s consider this piece within the context of early 19th-century America, a time marked by strict gender roles, where a woman’s value was often tied to her domestic abilities. This sampler, filled with alphabets, numbers, and pious phrases, becomes more than just a display of skill. It's a testament to Smith's education, her social standing, and the expectations placed upon her as a young woman in that era. The detailed stitching and careful arrangement speak to the hours of labor invested, reflecting the patience and diligence expected of women. In her short life, Smith and others like her were under the "inspection" of mothers and other women in their lives. What stories are embedded in the fabric, revealing the intersections of gender, education, and social status?