Shakers

The Shakers, officially known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming, were an offshoot religious movement which originated in England in 1747. Called the "Shaking Quakers" for their trembling from religious fervor, the movement bloomed after adherent Ann Lee emigrated to New York and founded the upstate colony of Watervliet. The movement peaked in the mid-19th century in the Northeast before falling into decline.Shakerism holds that God has dual natures, male and female; reflected in this are beliefs in the equality of the sexes and familial communism. The Shakers were also pacifists, beileved in the communal ownership of property, and participatory worship involving singing, marching, and open confession of sins. Shakers were probably best known, however, for their furniture and crafts, and in their belief in total celibacy-- a belief which required a constant stream of new converts to maintain the sect. The Shaker communities peaked in membership around 1860, but by the late 1990s only the New Gloucester, Maine community remained.

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Canterbury Shaker Village - Cultural Museum, Restaurant, Shop (Canterbury, NH) virtual tour; contact information; online shop.
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The Enfield Shaker Museum - (Enfield, NH) Visitors' information; bibliography.
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Shaker Workshops - Articles on Shaker culture and craftsmanship.
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Shaker Museum and Library - (Old Chatham, NY) Visitors' information and calendar.
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Hancock Shaker Village - (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) Cultural museum: virtual tour, online shop.
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National Gallery of Art - Shaker Crafts from the Index of American Design - Photographic tour.
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Mount Lebanon Shaker Village - (New Lebanon, NY) includes a brief overview and tourist information.
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IHAS - The Shakers - A brief history of the Shaker movement, including their cultural and musical contributions.
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Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village - Historical background of the United Society of Believers (Shakers), links to museum, library archives, calendar, and the herb catalog.
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Religious Movements: Shakers - A history of the Shakers, including a discussion of their beliefs, with links to related sites.
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Sabbathday Lake - (Maine) A profile of the only remaining active Shaker community.
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Shaker Heritage Society - A non-profit historic preservation group which runs interpretive educational programming about the Shakers and their influence on the region.
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Shaker Manuscripts On-Line - Online versions of some of the documents published by the early Shakers in times past, including those discussing their beliefs, prophecies and inspired transmissions from the Godhead.
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Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill - A restored Shaker community and living museum. Includes a profile of facilities which include dining, lodging, and crafts.
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Smithsonian Magazine: Living a Tradition - Includes article, music clips, recipes, and links.
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Shaker Museum And Library - Explains museum collections, library resources, special events, nearby accommodations, and gift shop offerings at site devoted to local Shaker history.
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Connecticut Cane and Reed Company - Offers Shaker herbs and crafts.
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The Shakers Of South Union - (Kentucky) A Shaker museum. A brief history of the sect, including a group photograph.
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The Shakers and the Oneida Community - Article about the interaction of the Shakers with the contemporary Oneida Community in New York. Includes a profile of the sect, its history and doctrine; by Randall Hillebrand.
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Web Search for Shakers United States Church History Christianity Religion and Spirituality Society - News search for Shakers United States Church History Christianity Religion and Spirituality Society - encyclopedia entries for Shakers United States Church History Christianity Religion and Spirituality Society