Object Story: Eunice Hooper's Sampler

Embroidery of brick house with woman reading in window, figures, horses and carriage, sheep, dog, and ox against dark background with foliage and birds; name and age of maker above.

Detail of embroidered image of exterior of brick house with a woman reading in the window.

Detail of embroidery featuring birds, foliage, ox, figures, and horses set against dark background.

Eunice Hooper (American, 1781-1866), Sampler, Marblehead, Massachusetts, ca. 1790, silk on linen. Jonathan and Karin Fielding Collection, L2015.41.65

This is a very different kind of sampler than others you might have seen that depict alphabets and numerals. It was made by Eunice Hooper at the age of nine. Eunice was the daughter of Samuel Hooper of Marblehead, Massachusetts (1741-1814) who was a ship captain and merchant. Eunice probably attended Martha Tar Barber’s school to learn how to sew. Ms. Barber’s school has become well known for its very distinctive style of embroidery.

Many embroidery teachers like Barber worked with their students to develop their samplers. Very often teachers would either draw a design directly on the linen background or provide an image for the girls to copy. This suggests that there were a variety of templates and patterns designed by Barber herself that she taught regularly.

Take a closer look at this image and see whether you can find some of the more interesting images in this sampler.

A woman reading a book
Birds, cows, sheep, and horses
A figure driving a chariot
The fall harvest

Questions for Discussion

Compare this sampler with the Mary Craig Hamlen sampler and identify the differences. What do the images on the sampler reveal about the society in which Eunice lived?
Consider the materials used to make this sampler. How might those materials be a clue about a family’s status?
Do you think Eunice’s family was of a higher status in society? Why?