Linen Pillowcase, about 1800
Letters and numbers practiced on samplers were stitched on household linens and garments, to keep track of family members’ belongings and what was sent out for laundering. Most urban laundresses were African American, as this physically demanding job was one of few open to free Blacks. Marking with ink gradually replaced cross stitching in the second third of the nineteenth century, first with a pen, but stamps and stencils were also available by mid-century. This was undoubtedly one factor leading to the decline of sampler making in schools, along with the overall trend towards more emphasis on academic subjects.
Gift of Barbara Hurlbutt 96.52.1