Episode 94

Collecting Samplers: An Interview with Alexandra Peters


Alexandra Peters

Samplers in Alexandra’s house

Samplers in Alexandra’s house

Family record sampler of Vilura Turner, the first sampler Alexandra bought 

A Map of the World, 1785 by 12 year old Mary de Horne, a Quaker girl from Stanway Hall in Essex, England

Sampler by Eliza Clymer, 1805, whose grandfather George signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Her other grandfather, Thomas Willing, was the Mayor of Philadelphia and perhaps the richest man in America. Alexandra bought it because she liked the Quaker calligraphy, and then when researching it discovered Eliza’s famous family.

Alexandra at home with a wall of family records, including the very large Heuston Genealogy. The Heuston Genealogy, made by a free Black girl from Brunswick, Maine in the early 1830’s. She was one of the daughters of Mehitable Griffin and Francis Heuston, who are acknowledged to have been conductors on the Underground Railroad

Four samplers from the Stetson family. of Scituate, Massachusetts, found at 4 different auctions by Alexandra. 
 Memorial sampler for Louisa Stetson, who died in 1808

The family record sampler of Snow and Lydia Stetson 

Betsey Stetson’s alphabet sampler

 Sampler made by 10 year old Zilphea Stetson in 1791, a few months before she died

Westtown globe made by Ann Thomson, 1817

Jane Bostocke sampler, 1598, V&A

Ann Mulliner, 1775.  An embroidered map of England that started out with deep blue silk in the background that faded to grey, and then was inked in white over the faded stitched threads