Pastoral Embroidery

Born in York County, Catherine Welshans probably attended one of the schools of Leah Meguire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Samplers from the Meguire schools display a marked affinity to those from the Buchanan schools. 

She began teaching embroidery following her marriage to James Buchanan (1784-1848) in various schools in York and Lancaster counties, specifically in Wrightsville, Marietta, Maytown and Columbia from 1812 to 1838.  The embroideries produced by her pupils share many similar motifs, patterns, and techniques and fall into two categories:  a mourning scene with tombstone, and a pastoral setting.  Both often feature a garden bench and adult female figures as well as children, frequently having real hair and metallic threads worked into the composition.