Skip to main content
profile image
Selected Works of Jonathan David Jeffrey
Article
Sericulture, Silk and South Union Shakers
The Shaker Messenger, Volume XV, Number 1, 1993, pp. 5-9, 30
  • Donna C. Parker, Western Kentucky University
  • Jonathan J. Jeffrey, Western Kentucky University
Download
Publication Date
1-1-1993
Comments

Originally published in The Shaker Messenger, Volume XV, Number 1, 1993, pp. 5-9, 30. The Shaker Messenger, published by The World of Shaker, is no longer in print. Photographs used with permission of the Shaker Museum at South Union.

Abstract

Kentucky Shakers were particularly adept at the process of producing silk. Kentucky's temperate climate was conducive to mulberry tree cultivation and sericulture, the raising of silkworms. South Union Sisters hatched and grew silkworms to harvest the delicate silk fibers they used in the manufacture of kerchiefs, neckwear, hat bands, bonnets, and sewing silk. Occasionally entire garments such as dresses were made from the luxurious silk.

Disciplines
Citation Information
Donna C. Parker and Jonathan J. Jeffrey. "Sericulture, Silk and South Union Shakers" The Shaker Messenger, Volume XV, Number 1, 1993, pp. 5-9, 30 Vol. 15 Iss. 1 (1993) p. 5 - 9, 30
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jonathan_jeffrey/10/
Related Files
silk hurdles.jpg (89 KB) Fig. 1: Silkworms were grown on shelves known as hurdles.
silkworm stages of growth.jpg (147 KB) Fig. 2: Stages of the silkworm's growth
silk reel.jpg (77 KB) Fig. 3: Workers unwound silk from the cocoon onto a silk reel.
shaker kerchiefs.jpg (71 KB) Fig. 4: Shakers typically wove striped borders into their beautiful silk kerchiefs. (Museum Collection, Shakertown at South Union)
shaker stock.jpg (79 KB) Fig. 5: Rose-colored silk stock worn by South Union Shaker William Booker (1841-1911). (Museum Collection, Shakertown at South Union)