Katie Tignor

07/25/2005

 

The Shakers

A Religion a Way of Life

 

 

In this paper I want to explore the lives of people who joined the shakers. Why would people sell their land to the leaders of this religion, why would people choose a life of celibacy, why would people ultimately choose to be separated from the loved ones and no longer live as a family? These are the specific questions I want to answer in the research paper. I want to go back in time and see if I can grasp the way these people felt when they made the decision to join, and also when some people made the decision to leave. I want to discuss what made people want to follow Ann Lee and the other leaders of the shakers.

 

Secondary Resources:

 

  1. Barkun, Michael.Crucible of the Millennium.

Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse U.Pr. 1986.

 

 

I think this book would help me to understand the religious opposition that people went through during this time. Also I think it would help me to understand how seriously people felt about their beliefs.

 

 

  1. DeWolfe, Elizabeth A.2002:Shaking the faith.

New York: Palgrave.

 

 

 

 

I would use the book to counter the positive side of the shaker faith.This book talks about a woman who left the faith because she thought it was ruining her family. This book would paint a more colorful picture of all of the aspects entailing this religion.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Ginzburg, Lori D.1990.Women and the Work of Benevolance.

New Haven: Yale University Press.

 

 

 

                 This book would give me a broader woman’s point of view. I think this book would help me see things in a more feminist sort of way. I think it would give me a deeper look to the trials that women faced during this time.

 

 

  1. Gutek,Gerald andGutek, Patricia.1998:Visiting Utopian Communities.

Columbia: U. of South Carolina Pr.

 

              

                  This book would give great detail about the architecture, industries, crafts, art and also the artifacts in the shaker communities. Each entry in the book gives a description of the community’s origin, ideology, history and the significance of the community.

 

 

 

 

  1. Johnson, Curtis D.1989.Islands of Holiness.

Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

 

 

      This resource will give me information about rural religion in upstate New York during the time period of 1790-1860. The book will help me to dig deeper into the aspects of the religions and see what made them tick.

 

 

 

 

  1. Johnson,Paul: A Shopkeepers Millenium.

 

 

                 

                  The theme of this book touches on the evangelical revival and related reform movements in the burned-over district of New York. It also gives a more in-depth look at social sources of religious revivalism.

 

 

 

 

  1. Lancaster,Clay.2001.Pleasant Hill-Shaker Canaan in Kentucky.

Salvisa,KY: Warwick.

 

 

                  I would use this book for its architectural aspect. Also, I would be able to get a better understanding of there products of labor.

      8. Starbuck, David.and Swank, Scott T.1998: A Shaker Family Album.

          Hanover, N.H.: U. Pr. of New England.

 

 

                  This is an album is filled with pictures that would help me to relate to the shaker ways of doing things. It would also give a closer look at the way they dressed and did there hair etc.

 

 

 

  1. Swank,Scott T. 1998: Shaker Life, Art, and Architecture.

New York: Abbeville.

 

               

                   This book is also and album filled with pictures that would help me to             relate to the shaker ways of doing things. And it would also give a closer look at the way they dressed and did there hair etc.

 

 

 

      9.Qirko,Hector. “Altruistic Celibacy, Kin-Cue Manipulation, and the Development of

                  Relegions Institutions.” Zygon : Journal of Relegion & Science 39,

                  3(2004) : p681,26p.

 

 

 

       This article might possible help me understand alittle more about why celibacy is such a large aspect of shakerism in the early days. It might also help me to understand the mind set these people have when the make decisions about living a celebate life.

 

 

 

    Primary Resources:

 

 

 

1.      Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, 1862. Transcribed and  

Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center. Exemption from the draft for the Shakers.Galedburg, Illinios: Knox College.

 

                 

 

 

                     To find this information you need to call : 1(202) 707-5000)

                    Or visit the Library of Congress either on line or in person.

                    This collection is a document written by Abraham Lincoln 

                     It address the matter of exempting the shakers from the war.                                

 

 

 

2.      Lee, Ann. Testimonies of Life, Character, Revelation and Doctrines of Mother

Ann Lee and the Elders with her Collected. Shakers 1816; Reprinted 1888.

 

 

(For more information you have to Email:

Passtheword@Passtheword.org)

This is a manuscript of teachings and doctrines written by

Ann Lee.

 

 

 

 

       3. Green, Calvin and Youngs, Benjamin S. Exerts from the Shakers 1856.

   Testimony of Christ’s Second Appearing. Appendix to 4th Edition.

 

 

( For more information you have to EmailPasstheword@Passtheword.org)

This is a manuscript of testimonies from the

Original shaker members in the 1800’s.