Rose, Milton C. and Emily Mason, edited by, — Shaker Tradition and Design.

NY, Bonanza Books, (1982). VG in VG DJ. A Protestant sect, the Shakers came to America from England in the 18th century. Their leader Ann Lee felt she had a call from. God for form a new sect that would return to the early beliefs of the Christian church and strive toward perfection and harmony by the pratice of strict religious beliefs. With their emphasis on community, order and harmony, the Shakers approached everything in their lives - architectures, crafts, cooking, worship - with the same need for purity and practicality and created a unique blend of their spititual beliefs and their daily ones. By following the maxim that "that is best which works best", the Shakers created ingenious and elegant furniture, beautiful homes, labor saving kitchen devices ( like the clothespin and apple corer) and crafts that are as popular today as in the 19th century. This is a comprehensive overview of the Shaker contribution to American life.