The Sampler Consortium International (SCI) is a global community of scholars, collectors, curators, and needlework enthusiasts dedicated to the study, preservation, and appreciation of antique samplers and needlework pictures.
Founded to bring together individuals and organizations with a shared passion for these remarkable textile artworks, the Sampler Consortium International serves as a hub for scholarship, education, and collaboration across borders.
Our Mission
The mission of the Sampler Consortium International is to advance the study, preservation, and appreciation of historic samplers and other girlhood embroideries. Whether you are a seasoned collector, an academic researcher, or simply someone who admires the artistry of antique needlework, SCI welcomes you.
What We Do
The Sampler Consortium International sponsors research projects, publishes books and media, hosts events and lectures, and connects members with a network of like-minded individuals around the world.
Specifically, the SCI works to:
- Promote and conduct research on historic samplers and related girlhood embroideries;
- Increase public access to information, scholarship, and resources relevant to the study of historic samplers and girlhood embroideries;
- Design, develop, and support projects, exhibitions, and publications that expand knowledge and foster understanding of historic samplers and other girlhood embroideries; and
- Facilitate communication and collaboration among museum curators, historical society staff, private collectors, scholars, genealogists, librarians, educators, publishers, needlework practitioners, and other interested members of the public.