Stereograph

Description

This group comprised of nine Shaker sisters, six Shaker brothers, and three boys, is posed at the north door of the back side of the Church Family's new Dwelling (1876). This stereograph was made by A. J. Alden in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1879. From the Berkshire County Eagle we have the following: "The Shakers are being photographed by Alden. He has made 25 or more negatives of groups, buildings and scenery in Lebanon, and the Shakers are to sell stereoscopic views to the hundreds who visit their settlements." [BCE. 51(August 28, 1879): [2], and "Alden's Shaker views which are for sale at Nugent's newsroom, show groups of brethren and sisters in the quaint costumes and they will be interesting additions to stereoscopic collections. One group has Elder Evans in the center with leading members of the fraternity around him. [BCE. 51(September 11, 1879): [2]. Two other stereographs in the Museum's collection (1950.4152.1 and 1950.4384.1) are similar to this image but include some different Shakers. Both were taken in the same location and likely on the same day. The back of the stereograph lacks the printed list of views but has a handwritten notation, "Group of Shakers, Church Family, Mt. Lebanon N. Y. It was published by "A. J. Alden, Photographer, Pittsfield, Mass." The views listed varies somewhat on different copies of this stereographic image. For copies with the list of views included in Alden's series titled, "Photographs of Shaker Village, Mt. Lebanon, N. Y., see: 1950.4026.1, 1950.4027.1, and 1950.4377.1.