Sampler (Marking sampler)

  • Category:

    Textiles (Needlework)

  • Creator (Role):

    Diana Harriet Cogswell (Maker)

    Susanna Haswell Rowson (School mistress)

  • Place of Origin:

    Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

  • Secondary Place of Origin:

    Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1803-1804

  • Materials:

    Silk; Linen

  • Techniques:

    Woven (plain), Embroidered

  • Museum Object Number:

    1984.0095


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1984.0095

Object Name

Sampler (Marking sampler)

Category

Textiles (Needlework)

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of William A. Henry in memory of Bessie Maynard Henry

Creator (Role)

Diana Harriet Cogswell (Maker)
1793-March 31, 1876
Diana Harriet Cogswell was born in Weston, Massachusetts in 1793. It is not known where she embroidered her 1803 marking sampler (1984.0095), though she is thought to have attended Mrs. Rowson's school. Susanna Haswell Rowson (1762-1824), opened her school for girls in 1797 in Boston, Massachusetts. In spite of her early career in theater, Mrs. Rowson quickly gained respect as a teacher, passing on her artistic skills to her students. In 1803, she moved her school to Newton, Massachusetts for a few years, and then later, back to Boston. Diana Cogswell also created a silkwork mourning picture (1984.0094), probably while at Mrs. Rowson's school. The mourning picture, created between 1810 and 1822, is similar to other work done at the school, located on Hollins Street in Boston. Diana married Ephraim Maynard in 1813 and moved to Westboro, Massachusetts. She died in Westboro in 1876. (See object files for Diana's complete genealogy.)(See Ring, Betty. Girlhood Embroidery, p. 88 for more information on Mrs. Rowson and her school.)(RGW, 07/08/2014)

Susanna Haswell Rowson (School mistress)
1762-1824
Susanna Haswell Rowson was born in Portsmouth, England in 1762 to Lt. Haswell, a British Naval officer (d. 1805), and her mother, Susanna Musgrove, who died giving birth to her. In 1786, at the age of twenty-four, Susanna married William Rowson. Susanna was a novelist, playwright, and actress who performed with her husband in several American cities. They signed a contract to appear on stage permanently in Philadelphia and then finally in Boston. She retired from the stage at the age of thirty-five. Boston's most celebrated girls' school of the Federal period was opened in 1797 by Susanna. Despite the disadvantage of a recent career in theater, this clever and hard-working woman quickly gained respect as a teacher, and her school was well patronized until her retirement in 1822. Her school became noted for the public performances of its students and the exhibitions of their work. She supervised every aspect of her school and endeared herself to her students. In 1803, Mrs. Rowson moved her school from Boston to Medford and then to Newton, and finally returned to Boston in May of 1807. Rowson remained as head preceptress until 1822, at which time the school was willed to her niece and an adopted daughter. Susanna died in 1824. (Ring, Betty. Girlhood Embroidery, Vol. I, p. 88 )

Place of Origin

Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

Secondary Place of Origin

Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

Secondary Origin Notes

Diana worked this sampler probably while attending Mrs. Rowson's School in Medford or Newton, Massachusetts.

Date

1803-1804

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Center bottom of text; "Let virtue be thy constant g / uide. Wrought by Diana Cog / swell ae 11 yrs" (embroidered thread)
2. Label; Pinned on tag; "84.95" (graphite)

Materials

Silk; Linen

Techniques

Woven (plain), Embroidered

Construction Description

Hand-embroidered

Dimensions (inches)

10 (L) , 7.75 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

25.4 (L) , 19.685 (W)

Object Description

Web - 07/16/2014

This is a linen marking sampler worked with silk threads. It was worked by Diana Cogswell of Weston, Massachusetts between 1803 and 1804. She is thought to have been taught at Mrs. Rowson's school. Susanna Haswell Rowson (1762-1824) opened her school for girls in 1797 in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1803, she moved her school to Newton, Massachusetts for a few years and then later back to Boston. Diana Cogswell also created a silkwork mourning picture, probably as a schoolgirl. It is unclear whether Diana attended the Newton or the Boston location of Mrs. Rowson's school. The inscription on Diana's marking sampler reads: "Let virtue be thy constant g / uide. Wrought by Diana Cog- / swell ae 11 yrs"

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] 1908 More Old Houses of Westborough, Massachusetts, and Vicinity With Their Occupants. 43-47.
picture of Diana Cogswell's house