Willard Needlework Samplers

Needlepoint samplers were a way young girls could practice their sewing and demonstrate their sewing skills. In early America, samplers were commonly created by middle- and upper-class girls who had both the time and the means to devote to their creations. The samplers created by Frances Willard and her beloved sister Mary are typical of band samplers - they include the alphabet , their names, ages, where they were made and the date. This is the only piece of finished needlework done by Frances so it was quite an accomplishment. They are part of the WCTU's archives collections.