Stereograph
Group of Shakers.
1871-1873
Description
Sixteen of seventeen Shakers (depending on which of the photographic pair is examined) pose in front of the northeast street-side door of the North Family Dwelling. On the far left, standing in front of the fence with her left hand on the shoulder of the Sister next to her is Sister Martha Jane Anderson (1844-1897). Seated behind the fence and facing to the left is Sister Anna White (1831-1910). The Brother seated on the right-hand side of the photograph behind the fence is Brother Daniel Offord (1843-1911) and seated in front of the fence is the venerable Brother Richard Bushnell (1791-1873) the North Family Elder from 1827 until he resigned in 1858 to become second in the Ministry. It seems odd that the Shakers would have posed for a photograph with one of the Sisters bonnets laying on the ground. Another detail of interest, with some magnification, the North Family's use of commercially-made chairs, is documented just to the right of Sister Ann White. In another copy of this view (acc. no. 1953.6118) the Sister on the far left-hand side of the left-hand image only shows a shoulder and not her face as appears on this card.