Strathnaver project picks out stories behind family samplers
A researcher from a Canadian university is basing herself in Bettyhill for the rest of this month to delve into the rich heritage of family samplers held in Strathnaver Museum’s collection.
Professor Laura Beard, of the University of Alberta, is inviting members of the public to share their own stories about samplers – a form of needlework, often made by young girls as part of their education, demonstrating sewing skills while also giving an insight into family stories and social issues from the past.
Prof Beard explained: “Samplers that have been passed down through families are not only particularly cherished but also sometimes serve as sources of genealogical information.
“We are interested in how the samplers in our family and community archives form part of the legacies of the past. What do we learn about life in the Highlands and in the broader Scottish diaspora by looking at these samplers?”
Prof Beard’s research project, Stitched Stories, sees her working with family and community archives to explore Scottish samplers and the stories they tell about their makers, their families and their communities.
The samplers in the museum collection were made in the latter half of the 1800s by girls from north Sutherland. These include a sampler made by Christina Mackay in 1872 when she was aged 13. Christina lived in Ardniskich, Bettyhill, and emigrated to the United States aged 17.
Two samplers would appear to have been made by Durness sisters D Sutherland, aged 14 in 1869, and W Sutherland, aged 14 in 1873. Other names that appear are Isabella Gunn (undated) and Kate McIntosh in 1883.
Members of the public are invited to attend sessions where they can explore the stitched samplers in the museum collection and share and learn more about their own heirloom samplers.
Prof Beard will be holding sessions at Strathnaver Museum at 11am on June 22, noon on June 24 and 7pm on June 27.