Shaker Studies: Enfield Shaker Portraits
Former Enfield Shaker Brother Hervey Elkins offered a first-hand account of the furnishings in the Great Stone Dwelling in Fifteen Years in the Senior Order of Shakers (1853). After describing the plainness of the dwelling rooms, he wrote, “No image or portrait of anything upon the earth, or under the earth, is suffered in this holy place”. What he could not have known about was the invention in Paris in 1854 of the carte de visite–2 1/2″ wide x 3″ high photographs pasted on card stock. Soon they were available in newly-established photographic studios all over the world. Their small size made them perfect for use as mementos to be given to friends, who mounted them in specially designed albums.
Photography was introduced to the Shakers at the Enfield, New Hampshire community with the arrival of the carte de visite and, based on the number of existing examples, they were popular in all the Shaker villages. The images below were all copied from cartes de visite or slightly larger cabinet cards. It is interesting to note that most of the Shakers in these images appear to be quite serious or even a bit uncomfortable. That’s possibly because they had to sit absolutely still, without blinking, for about 15 seconds and sometimes an adjustable metal brace was placed behind their head, keeping it steady.
Enfield Shaker Museum thanks the private collectors and institutions who made these Shaker cartes de visite available for our use.
![Elmira Allard Elmira Allard](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Elmira-Allard_sm.jpg)
Elmira P. Allard
b. 8 April 1808 Sharon, VT
d. 30 October 1886 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Rosalinda Allard Rosalinda Allard](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rosalinda-Allard_sm.jpg)
Rosalinda Allard
b. 26 October 1812 Sharon, VT
d. 7 October 1887 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Cynthia Annis Cynthia Annis](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Cynthia-Annis_sm.jpg)
Cynthia C. Annis
b. 27 March 1812 Bath, NH
d. 25 January 1904 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Abigail Appleton Abigail Appleton](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Abigail-Appleton_sm.jpg)
Abigail F. Appleton
b. 29 September 1868 Boston, MA
d. 2 October 1942 Concord, NH
Church Family
![Flora Appleton Flora Appleton](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Flora-Appleton_sm.jpg)
Flora Appleton
b. 13 November 1881 Boston, MA
d. 7 March 1962 Concord, NH
Church Family
![HIram Carlos Baker HIram Carlos Baker](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/HIram-Baker_sm.jpg)
Hiram Carlos Baker
b. 22 December 1823 Sharon, VT
d. 30 March 1906 Enfield, NH
North/Church Family
![Susan Bartholomew Susan Bartholomew](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Susan-Bartholomew_sm.jpg)
Susan B. Bartholomew
b. 29 August 1823 Hartford, VT
d. 18 March 1911 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Mary Basford Mary Basford](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Basford_sm.jpg)
Mary M. Basford
b. 27 February 1842 St. John, NB
d. 21 Oct 1929 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![George H Baxter George H Baxter](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/George-H-Baxter_sm.jpg)
George K. H. Baxter
b. 30 October 1861 Medford, MA
d. 11 Dec 1924 Montague, MA
Church Family
![John Bradford John Bradford](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/John-Bradford_sm.jpg)
John Bradford
b. 19 December 1823 Pomfret, VT
d. 15 July 1904 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Triphena Bradford Triphena Bradford](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Triphena-Bradford_sm.jpg)
Tryphena Bradford
b. 18 March 1833 Barnard, VT
d. 23 February 1907 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Carrie Briggs Carrie Briggs](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Carrie-Briggs_sm.jpg)
Carrie E. Briggs
b. 22 August 1831 Boston, MA
d. 27 October 1914 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Mary Ella Briggs Mary Ella Briggs](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Ella-Briggs_sm.jpg)
Mary Ella Briggs
b. 28 September 1852 La Salle, IL
d. 27 February 1913 Enfield, NH
North/Church Family
![Sally Ceeley Sally Ceeley](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Sally-Ceeley_sm.jpg)
Sally Ceeley
b. 27 Dec 1805 Tuftonboro, NH
d. 4 June 1898 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Melissa Chase Melissa Chase](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Melissa-Chase_sm.jpg)
Melissa Chase
b. 20 Feb 1828 Stanstead, PQ
d. 21 September 1902 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Nelson Chase Nelson Chase](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Nelson-Chase_sm.jpg)
Nelson Chase
b. 14 July 1830 Stanstead, PQ
d. 4 June 1898 Auburn, ME
Church Family
![Simeon Childs Simeon Childs](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Simeon-Childs_sm.jpg)
Simeon Childs
b. 15 January 1812 Royalton, VT
d. 25 March 1895 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Ann Cummings Ann Cummings](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Ann-Cummings_sm.jpg)
Mary Ann Cummings
b. 3 March 1844 Hebron, NH
d. 23 Jan 1927 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Henry Cummings Henry Cummings](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Henry-Cummings_sm.jpg)
Henry Cummings
b. 17 June 1834 Groton, NH
d. 20 October 1913 Enfield, NH
North/Church Family
![John Cummings John Cummings](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/John-Cummings_sm.jpg)
John T. Cummings
b. 18 April 1829 Groton, NH
d. 2 August 1911 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Rosetta Cummings Rosetta Cummings](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rosetta-Cummings_sm.jpg)
Rosetta Cummings
b. 21 December 1841 Hebron, NH
d. 12 Nov 1925 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Lizzie Curtis Lizzie Curtis](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lizzie-Curtis_sm.jpg)
Lizzie Curtis
b. 13 October 1844 Hartford, VT
d. 26 September 1921 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Mary Ann Curtis Mary Ann Curtis](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Ann-Curtis_sm.jpg)
Mary Ann Curtis
b. 4 February 1822 Orford, NH
d. 9 September 1898 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Cynthia Cushman Cynthia Cushman](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Cynthia-Cushman_sm.jpg)
Cynthia Cushman
b. 14 August 1820 Norwich, VT
d. 5 March 1907 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Mary Darling Mary Darling](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Darling_sm.jpg)
Mary Darling
b. 5 May 1850 Whitehall, NY
d. 4 October 1922 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Hester Darling Hester Darling](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Hester-Darling_sm.jpg)
Hester A. Darling
b. 17 March 1849 Whitehall, NY
d. 30 April 1910 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Sarah Dean Sarah Dean](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Sarah-Dean_sm.jpg)
Sarah E. Dean
b. 15 May 1810 Strafford, VT
d. 15 September 1900 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Great Stone Dwelling 1880_sm](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Great-Stone-Dwelling-1880_sm.jpg)
Caleb M. Dyer
b. 25 August 1800 Brunswick, VT
d. 21 July 1863 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Orville Dyer Orville Dyer](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Orville-Dyer_sm.jpg)
Orville Dyer
b. 15 June 1804 Stratford, NH
d. 16 June 1882 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Almira Elkins Almira Elkins](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Almira-Elkins_sm.jpg)
Almira S. Elkins
b. 8 February 1850 Andover, NH
d. 11 June 1897 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Mary Ellen Elkins Mary Ellen Elkins](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Ellen-Elkins_sm.jpg)
Mary Ellen Elkins
b. 28 January 1852 Andover, NH
d. 25 March 1901 Haverhill, NH
Second Family
![Odilon Elkins Odilon Elkins](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Odilon-Elkins_sm.jpg)
Odilon O. B. Elkins
b. 6 January 1846 Andover, NH
d. 7 February 1884 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Annie Ellis Annie Ellis](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Annie-Ellis_sm.jpg)
Annie M. Ellis
b. 9 April 1836 Bedford, NS
d. 3 August 1915 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Lucinda Fairman Lucinda Fairman](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lucinda-Fairman_sm.jpg)
Lucinda Fairman
b. 1 July 1807 Leicester, VT
d. 4 April 1886 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Fannie Fallon Fannie Fallon](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Fannie-Fallon_sm.jpg)
Fannie Fallon
b. 12 July 1854 West Newton, MA
d. 6 February 1928 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Mary Fall Mary Fall](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Fall_sm.jpg)
Mary Falls
b. 30 July 1810 Thornton, NH
d. 4 May 1884 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Tamar Fall Tamar Fall](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tamar-Fall_sm.jpg)
Tamar Falls
b. 2 Dec 1808 Thornton, NH
d. 16 January 1885 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Irena George Irena George](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Irena-George_sm.jpg)
Irena George
b. 9 April 1907 Sharon, VT
d. 22 May 1898 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Myra Green Myra Green](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Myra-Green_sm.jpg)
Myra A. Green
b. 9 March 1835 Champlain, NY
d. 9 March 1942 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Charlotte Hart Charlotte Hart](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Charlotte-Hart_sm.jpg)
Charlotte G. Hart
b. 10 Oct 1815 Charlestown, NH
d. 13 April 1899 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Betsey Hartford Betsey Hartford](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Betsey-Hartford_sm.jpg)
Betsey Hartford
b. 27 June 1807 Moultonboro, NH
d. 5 April 1886 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Grace Holbrook Grace Holbrook](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Grace-Holbrook_sm.jpg)
Grace L. Holbrook
b. 21 January 1869 Boston, MA
d. 12 January 1926 Hanover, NH
Church Family
![Melinda Hubbard Melinda Hubbard](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Melinda-Hubbard_sm.jpg)
Melinda Hubbard
b. 9 August 1819 Charlestown, NH
d. 25 January 1898 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Mary Ann Joslin Mary Ann Joslin](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mary-Ann-Joslin_sm.jpg)
Mary Ann Joslin
b. 3 October 1843 Johnson, VT
d. 12 Sep 1924 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Marinda Keniston Marinda Keniston](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Miranda-Keniston_sm.jpg)
Marinda Keniston
b. 29 April 1848 Lennoxville, PQ
d. 6 April 1911 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Caleb Dyer Caleb Dyer](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Caleb-Dyer_sm.jpg)
Jason Kidder
b. 30 October 1781 Alstead, NH
d. 7 January 1869 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Ethel Morse Ethel Morse](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Ethel-Morse_sm.jpg)
Ethel A. Morse
b. 24 June 1881 Gardner, MA
d. 23 May 1911 Waterbury, VT
Church Family
![Nancy Ann Morse Nancy Ann Morse](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Nancy-Ann-Morse_sm.jpg)
Nancy Ann Morse
b. 10 January 1838 Plainfield, NH
d. 21 January 1911 Enfield, NH
Church/North Family
![Gardner Nourse Gardner Nourse](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Gardner-Nourse_sm.jpg)
Gardner Nourse
b. 4 May 1830 Springfield, VT
d. 20 October 1914 Springfield, VT
Church Family
![David Parker David Parker](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/David-Parker_sm.jpg)
David Parker
b. 12 May 1807 Boston, MA
d. 20 Jan 1860 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Hannah Parkhurst Hannah Parkhurst](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Hannah-Parkhurst_sm.jpg)
Hannah Parkhurst
b. 23 September 1812 Sharon, VT
d. 15 April 1887 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Abraham Perkins Abraham Perkins](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Abraham-Perkins_sm.jpg)
Abraham Perkins
b. 13 Oct 1807 Sanbornton, NH
d. 12 August 1900 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
![Timothy Randlett Timothy Randlett](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Timothy-Randlett_sm.jpg)
Timothy J. Randlett
b. 10 Dec 1806 Meredith, NH
d. 11 November 1892 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Isabella Russell Isabella Russell](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Isabella-Russell_sm.jpg)
Isabella Russell
b. 22 November 1833 Hartland, VT
d. 4 March 1900 Enfield, NH
Church/North Family
![James Russell James Russell](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/James-Russell_sm.jpg)
James G. Russell
b. 29 July 1843 Norwich, VT
d. 3 May 1888 Enfield, NH
Church/North Family
![Julia Russell Julia Russell](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Julia-Russell_sm.jpg)
Julia A. Russell
b. 1 March 1839 Woodstock, VT
d. 5 May 1897 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Enfield Shaker Sister Caroline C. Slack](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Caroline-Slack_sm.jpg)
Caroline C. Slack
b. 12 July 1817 Norwich, VT
d. 4 November 1888 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Elias Smith Elias Smith](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Elias-Smith_sm.jpg)
Elias P. Smith
b. 14 Sep 1810 Woodstock, VT
d. 24 June 1890 Enfield, NH
North/South Family
![Zelinda Smith Zelinda Smith](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Zelinda-Smith_sm.jpg)
Zelinda E. Smith
b. 30 January 1820 Mt. Morris, NY
d. 30 January 1899 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Emma Spooner Emma Spooner](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Emma-Spooner_sm.jpg)
Emma A.J. Spooner
b. 10 Oct 1848 New Bedford, MA
d. 28 October 1906 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Henrietta Spooner Henrietta Spooner](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Henrietta-Spooner_sm.jpg)
Henrietta Spooner
b. 13 Sep 1844 Pawtucket, RI
d. 1 August 1918 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![Frank Washburn Frank Washburn](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Frank-Washburn_sm.jpg)
Frank W. Washburn
b. 4 Nov 1870 Chateaugay, NY
d. 22 May 1945 Palmer, MA
Church Family
![Martha Wetherell Martha Wetherell](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Martha-Wetherell_sm.jpg)
Martha Wetherell
b. 19 Dec 1855 Glastonbury, CT
d. 25 Jan 1944 Mt. Lebanon, NY
North Family
![Caroline Whitcher Caroline Whitcher](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Caroline-Whitcher_sm.jpg)
Caroline Whitcher
b. 21 January 1822 Andover, NH
d. 15 March 1902 Enfield, NH
Church Family
![WIlliam Wilson WIlliam Wilson](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WIlliam-Wilson_sm.jpg)
William Wilson
b. 23 Feb 1827 Chateaugay, NY
d. 13 November 1907 Enfield, NH
South Family
![Franklin Young Franklin Young](https://shakermuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Franklin-Young_sm-1.jpg)
Franklin Young
b. 22 October 1845 Brandon, VT
d. 21 Sep 1935 Canterbury, NH
Church Family
Enfield Shaker Museum
447 NH Rt 4A
Enfield, NH 03748
603-632-4346