Sometimes things just come together so beautifully. I’ve been eagerly awaiting my research trip to the Hagen History Center/Erie County Historical Society today. My goal: to study the Blair sampler.
The sampler, predominately done in cross stitch, was made by Jane Blair in Fairview, Erie County, in 1823. The piece is an “FIC,” or “Found In Collection,” which sadly means that it lacks any provenance or history of ownership, donation documentation, or family background. Given its early date, there are few other documents to give us insight into the artifact. So we must rely on the stitching itself to tell us Jane’s story. To learn more about what secrets it reveals, you’ll have to check out my Summer 2025 column in Western Pennsylvania History magazine!
But for now, I leave you with a detail from young Jane’s work. How perfect is this little heart, stitched with love, for us to enjoy on St. Valentine’s Day! We ❤ History!
The Free-Range Historian 