I write about this theft, of two rare samplers from the DAR of Rochester, NY, because I have a weakness for samplers, and I’m man enough to admit it. I also know that I’m not the only one. Come on, say it with me…

I think it’s the directness of samplers that moves me, the connection to the original maker, to the exact time and place where it came from.

The article linked below, from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, is about two samplers, as mentioned above, that were taken from the Rochester chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution, if you’re not up on your historical organizations).

The samplers in question date to the early 1800s, and bear a direct link to members of the chapter. They’ve been in the Rochester DAR for more than a century and have hung on the group's wall their for just as long, unmolested, with no reason to worry - until last Friday that is, when police and members suspect somebody swiped the samplers from their perches when the DAR was open to the public. The cops are asking local antique dealers to be aware, and the DAR is keeping a close eye on the Web, should one of their items pop up.

I personally find this a bit disturbing, but can only assume they were taken by someone with little knowledge of antiques, or the difficulty of getting rid of something so specific, especially when news of its theft is so widespread.

If you’re in the central NY state region, please be on the lookout.

Here’s the article.

Noah Fleisher