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This collection of more than 100 images captures the essence of Shaker life in poses both pious and playful, and records how individual identity was nurtured, rather than extinguished by the community. Carefully chosen from thousands of archival photos and from a drawerful of snapshots saved by Eldress Bertha Lindsay, one fo the last Shakers to live at Canterbury and herself a consummate photographer, these picturesmost of them never intended for publicationgive new life to the Shaker lifestyle,. These farmers, artisans, and celibate guardians of orphan children lived in what David R. Starbuck calls an unusually humane environment and maintained a faith that was remarkably resilient and long lasting.
These images show Shakers apple-picking, haying, and cooking, but also record the more creative and recreational aspects of Shaker life: excursions to other Shaker villages; boat rides on nearby lakes; theatricals complete with costumes and scenery. A group of women makes popcorn balls at Christmas time; several women romp in the snow or at the beach; the Tenuvus harmonica band poses after a concert. This wide range of subjects, Starbuck says, provides convincing proof that the Canterbury Shakers were a hard-working but fun-loving people, filled with enthusiasm for their way of life and engaged in nearly all of the same activities as the worlds people.
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