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
Cultural History | History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Place and Environment | Sociology of Culture | Work, Economy and Organizations
Recommended Repository Citation
Parker, Donna C. and Jeffrey, Jonathan J.. (1993). Sericulture, Silk and South Union Shakers. The Shaker Messenger, Volume XV, Number 1, 1993, pp. 5-9, 30, 15 (1), 5-9, 30.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_fac_pub/21
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)
Included in
Cultural History Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons
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.