Throwback Thursday: Shaker Heights Historical Society Spirit Drawing

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH - Spirit drawings, or gift drawings, were elaborate illustrations of visions that the Brothers or Sisters would have. The person who experienced the vision was only a medium in which the Spirit communicated, and this made the drawings very important and significant to their culture. It had many similar themes, such as the trees, flowers, fruit, and doves, but they are all unique. It contradicts the Shaker ideal of an unembellished product, as spirit drawings were quite elaborate and colorful. The Shakers were conflicted with the fact that their spirit drawings were beautifully decorated, however they always pointed out that it is the message behind the drawing that is significant to them, not the drawing itself. The drawings were also sometimes given as a sort of present to each other, accompanied by a short verse or poem.

The Shaker Historical Museum celebrates the Spirit Tree, which was a common subject for spirit drawings. With modern colors, the museum’s logo celebrates the bright colors and spirit of the Shakers’ tree. Unfortunately we know of no drawings that the North Union Shakers drew here. All spirit drawings in the museum’s collection come from other Shaker communities. Even so, it is likely that the North Union Shakers participated in this activity, despite the fact that here on the frontier, the Shakers at North Union often found themselves in trouble with Mt Lebanon (the capital of the communities in New York), because they failed to adhere to the strict rules at all times. Their furniture produced here is evidence of that rebellious nature and tendency to decorate, with many additional embellishments, ornate finial designs on chairs and rockers, and special ring turnings on chair and table legs.

The North Union Shakers lived in what became Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights between 1822 and 1889.

Photo and story from Ware Petznick, PhD, Executive Director, Shaker Historical Society