Stereograph

Description

This group comprised of nine Shaker Sisters, seven Shaker Brothers, and two boys, is posed at the eastern door of the Church Family Office at Mount Lebanon, New York. Although this stereograph was offered by Alden, Photo. Co. in Providence, Rhode Island, the image is the same as that sold 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]. The back of this card does not have the list of 27 views printed on noc004026 and noc004027. While similar in general composition and location, this photograph is quite different in who is sitting for the photograph than 1950.4152.1.