Event brings speakers to the original Shaker settlement
ALBANY — On May 4th, about 90 people in all representing 14 states, including Shaker historians, collectors, and enthusiasts, convened to examine the impact of the Shaker settlements. The event, hosted by the Shaker Heritage Society and planned by the Shaker Studies community, is honoring the Shakers’ historic legacy on the 250th anniversary of their arrival in North America.
“This is really special because it’s the 250th anniversary, commemorating 250 years of Shaker history in North America and subsequently the United States since the Shakers arrived since before this was an independent country,” said Johanna Batman, Executive Director of the Shaker Heritage Society.
“The gathering here really is meaningful because this is the original Shaker settlement, which serves as a touchstone for a lot of people in that world, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to renew our connections with that community,” she continued. “There are a lot of independent scholars that have carried forward that scholarship, enthusiasm, and interest.”
Speakers for the event included Johanna Batman, John Scherer (Historian Emeritus, New York State Museum), Ashley Hopkins-Benton (Senior Historian and Curator of Social History, New York State Museum), and Jerry Grant (Director of Collections and Research of the Shaker Museum in Chatham).
Additional speakers were Carrie Holland (Director and CEO of the Hancock Shaker Village), June Sprigg (author), Scott DeWolfe (DeWolfe and Wood Rare Books), and Darryl Thompson (Shaker Historian).
“This is almost a reunion weekend, getting together to celebrate the living sites and living history,” said Batman. “I like to think about this as a soft launch of a year’s celebrations.”
Events acknowledging this history continue with a celebration planned for May 18th and 19th at the Sabbathday Lake in Maine, with another community conference and event to be hosted in August to commemorate the anniversary of the Shakers arriving in New York City.
“Shaker history is American history,” said Batman. “There’s so many ways that you can engage with history and so many ways that they’ve had a lasting influence on American art, culture, history, and scientific innovation.”
“We’re looking forward in two years to the 250th anniversary of the founding of this settlement,” she added, regarding the Shaker Heritage Society. “In some respects, this is the beginning of two years of celebrations.”
