In partnership with the Washington and Lee University Library, Frances Richardson and the Central Virginia Fiber Guild assembled a digital exhibit on weaving history in 19th-century Rockbridge county, including reproductions of the original patterns.
“ROCKBRIDGE WEAVERS,” curated by Frances Richardson, is free and open to the public on weekends at the RHS Museum through December 2024 (Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4, 101 E. Washington St.). The origins of this project – archival and artisanal alike – drew from the discovery of early 19th century weaving patterns preserved on small scraps of paper held at Washington & Lee, and shared with friends and family. More broadly, this representative group of “ordinary women, with extraordinary skills,” further highlights a range of everyday connections, financial exchanges, and social networks linking the farmsteads and stores near “Panther Gap” (near Goshen, in the northwestern corner of Rockbridge).
Displays of period samples held in RHS Collections, and explanations of historic techniques, are complemented by displays, samples, and reflections shared by Richardson and a wider group of fellow “Sisters at the Loom.” Through their own craft and curiosities, they have used these particular patterns, inked and pinned by local hands two centuries ago, to create contemporary and often colorful reproductions of their own.
At the museum (or on this video feature by Rockbridge Report), you can see live demonstrations on Richardson’s 6-foot antique loom. You can also learn about these histories virtually, via an online exhibit developed by staff in W&L’s Special Collections Archives and Digital Humanities Division.
Sunday, December 15, 2:00 PM
Manly Memorial Baptist Church
202 S. Main St., Lexington
Cap RHS’ 85th year with a deeper dive into our 2024 Exhibit, which was curated by our year’s final presenter, Frances Richardson. Her illustrated slideshow will discuss the origins of a project: drawn from the early 19th century weaving patterns inked onto small scraps of paper, shared with friends and family, and now preserved at Washington & Lee, and. More broadly, the representative group of “ordinary women, with extraordinary skills,” further highlights a range of everyday connections, financial exchanges, and social networks linking the farmsteads and stores near “Panther Gap” (near Goshen, in the northwestern corner of Rockbridge). Richardson will also discuss how these traces of material culture have helped to shape her own curiosities and practice as a weaver, joined by a wider group of fellow “Sisters at the Loom,” who have used these historic patterns – scripted and pinned by local hands two centuries ago – to create contemporary and often colorful reproductions of their own.
The complementary exhibit, “ROCKBRIDGE WEAVERS” remains open on weekends at the RHS Museum through December 2024 (Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4, 101 E. Washington St.). There, you can see live demonstrations on Richardson’s 6-foot antique loom. You can also learn about these histories virtually, via an online exhibit developed with staff in W&L’s Special Collections Archives and Digital Humanities Division. A video feature by the Rockbridge Report gives you a further glimpse of the displays and design, and clips of the weaving process, itself.
Before the featured presentation, outgoing President Larry Spurgeon will introduce the nominees for next team of RHS Officers, and provide an overview of proposed revisions to the RHS Constitution and By-Laws (you can review those updates, approved by the Board in November, HERE. Our contributing members are invited to vote for adoption of those recommendations, as well as the proposed Officer slate for 2025-2026: President, Tom Roberts; Vice President, Julie Goyette; Secretary, Cathy DeSilvey; Treasurer, Stephanie Hardy.
How Inventions Really Happen: The Sewing Machine Story in Five Acts
By Paul C. Wilson (2017)
Review by Eric Wilson, Executive Director, Rockbridge Historical Society