How do the stitches of a sampler tell us about the past?
Using a needle and thread was considered a necessary household skill for girls and women in the 1800s. They made samplers to practice stitches and show off what they could do. Margaret Miekel’s sampler helps us stitch together the living and learning in the area before Wisconsin was officially a state!
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
What evidence do we have to know who made the sampler we’re looking at? Or when it was made?
Why was it important for girls and young women to learn how to cross-stitch, embroider, and sew? Have you ever done any cross-stitching, embroidery, or sewing?
What was life like for women and girls during the time the sampler was made?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 4 cards to read.
Taylor L. Bailey
Public Historian
I get to look at things and moments in history and teach others about them!
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Public Historian
I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!
Cat Phan
Digital and Media Archivist
I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!
Lynda Thayer
Curator
I love history and enjoy volunteering at a museum where we try to bring local history alive for our visitors.
Quote from a historian
“Samplers have been around for hundreds of years … and cross-stitch was one of the most important ways to learn to sew.”
Lynda Thayer
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund
Hosts
Taylor L. Bailey
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Cat Phan
Special Guest
Lynda Thayer
Research and Writing
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
David Boffa
Videography
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Kate Melberg
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Additional Production Support
Philip Ashby
Al Barcheski
John Dachik
Angie Hause
Kurt Kaspar
Andy LaValley
Doug May
Will Salzmann
Executive Producer
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
Lynda Thayer and the Elmbrook Historical Society
Educator advisors
Debbie Burmeister
Neenah, WI
Peoria, AZ
Erin Ermis
Neenah Joint School District
Neenah, WI
Toni Heinowski
Muskego, WI
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
Barb Shaver
Kettle Moraine School District
Wales, WI
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin