Jane Campbell, 1840
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This sampler was made by Jane Campbell from Aughalane, Plumbridge, County Tyrone and is dated October 1840.
The sampler, including frame is 35cm by 21cm.
Jane Campbell made this sampler when she was 13 years old. It was made as part of the school curriculum, to learn how to sew initials for marking household linen.
Jane worked the alphabets in colourful wool and the text at the bottom in black silk. She ran out of space to complete the name of her grandmother's house where she stayed, 'Aughalane'. This dwelling, Campbell House, or Aughalane House as it was known, was acquired by the Ulster American Folk Park in 1995 and is now one of our furnished exhibit buildings on display in the outdoor museum.
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Jane finished her sampler on 27th October 1840. Many samplers were finished in October, possibly to coincide with a routine visit from the School Inspector.
The needlework curriculum at school covered eight areas including hemming, seaming, overcasting buttonholes, and tucking and trimming. Instructions were contained in a manual called 'Simple Directions in Needlework and Cutting Out intended for use in the National Female Schools of Ireland.'
Jane married Robert Dunn and had eight children. She died in 1901.
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