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Sampler by Susan Emilia Aldrich

Date1836

Maker Susan Emilia Aldrich (1824 - 1878)

OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Smithfield

MediumCotton embroidery threads on a cotton ground of 44 x 42 threads per inch (fiber identification by Textile Lab)

DimensionsOverall: 5 3/8 × 13 5/8in. (13.7 × 34.6cm) Framed: 6 3/8 × 14 7/8in.

Credit LineGift of Marian Kelso

Object number2020-123

DescriptionThis is a small rectangular alphabet sampler worked in dark blue and gold/tan silk embroidery threads on a natural color linen ground. It is hemmed in a 1/4 inch hem on all four sides. From the top the sampler consists of: "A-WW" uppercase block worked in cross stitch/; band of single cross stitch/; "X Y Z &" uppercase block, small diamond motif, "a-z" lowercase block, "&" worked in cross stitch/; band of single cross stitch/; "A-R" uppercase block worked in cross stitch/; band of single cross stitch/; "S-Z" uppercase script, small cross stitch motif, "1-9" small cross stitch motif, "1836" worked in cross stitch/; band of cross stitch/; "SUSAN EMILIA ALDRICHS SAMPLER"/; "SMITHFIELD RHODE ISLAND." The sampler is enclosed on all four sides in a simple cross stitched border. It is framed and under glass. An inked family provenance on two pieces of paper is attached to the back of the sampler.
Stitches: cross over one and two
Label TextSusan Emilia Aldrich was about twelve years of age when she completed her alphabet sampler. Often called marking samplers, schoolgirl sewing projects like this one provided an opportunity for young girls to practice stitching letters and numerals that they would later use to "mark" their family household linens with initials and numbers.
The sampler and a portrait of Susan, which was created when she was a young toddler, descended through the family until they were donated to the museum.
InscribedAn inked family history on two pieces of paper is attached to the back of the sampler.
ProvenanceThe sampler descended from the maker Susan Emilia Aldrich May (1824-1879) to her daughter, Eliza Daniels May Goodwin (1848/49-1920/21); to her daughter, Susan Goodwin Hodgson (b. 1870); to her daughter Eliza May Hodgson Kelso (1891-1966); to her son John Hodgson Kelso (1925-2009) and then his wife, Marian L. Towers Kelso (b. 1925), who donated the sampler to the museum in 2020.

An inked family history on two pieces of paper is attached to the back of the sampler. It reads:
Susan Emilia Aldrich born at Smithfield Rhode Island/
Jan 8 1824. Died Oct 16 . 1878/
Daughter of Eliza Daniels and/ who owned/ the old tea set/
Ezekiel Aldrich/ of/ Smithfield/ R. I./
Her sister Carrie married/ William Augustus/ Moury/ whom we called “Uncle Augustus/
& I visited with him on Martha’s/ Vineyard Island the summer of/ 1916/

Married/
Oliver Wolcott May/
b. Sept 6 1820/
d. Mar 17 – 1885/

They had/
1 Eliza Daniels May (“Nannie/ Goodwin”)/ who married Edwin Horace Goodwin/
2 William May – no children but adopted one, a girl, Ruth./ (Had a shoe store)/
3 Ezekiel May/
Oliver/ Walter/ John/ Sam/ William – (He showed me around Boston/ in 1916)/ all lived in or near / Worchester Mass.
4 Samuel (Hurt in gym at Amherst College), was on way to/ law when hurt. Had a brokerage business./
“Nannie” was born at Woonsocket R. I. then her parents moved to/ Worchester Mass. (from Foundry MO[?])

Susan Emilia Aldrich was: Grandmother of/ Susan Goodwin Hodgson/
Great Grandmother of Eliza May Hodgson Kelso/
Great Great Grandmother of John Hodgson Kelso/ and Susan Virginia Kelso/
She also made the old needle points to the old/ divan while she was in boarding school for/
her “Hope Chest”. Her Husband/ Oliver Wolcott May// later had them put on the divan he had made./
The old Lyre Table was hers too.

History of sampler maker:
Susan Emilia Aldrich (1824-1878) was the daughter of Ezekiel and Eliza Aldrich of Smithfield and Woonsocket, Rhode Island. On December 12, 1847, she married Oliver Wolcott May (1820/21-1884/85) in Stonington, Connecticut. They had four children: Eliza Daniels May (1848/49-1920/1921); William E. May (b. 1850); Ezekiel A. May (b. 1853); and Samuel D. May (b. 1857). In 1850, the family was living in Smithfield, Rhode Island. By 1853, they had moved to Worchester, Massachusetts. The 1870 US census records Susan E. May in Worcester Ward 6 living with Oliver W. May, whose occupation is listed as a farmer. Living with them are their married daughter, son-in-law and grandchild who is named for Susan (Edwin H. Goodwin, Eliza D. Goodwin, and Susan A. Goodwin) and their other children: Willie E., Ezekiel A. (age 17), and Samuel D. (age 13).