Our registry was established to locate, document, and celebrate samplers across Canada, showcasing their rich historical and cultural significance. These beautiful pieces of needlework, found in museums and private collections, illustrate the incredible diversity of our nation. Many samplers were brought to Canada by immigrants, while others reflect the family origins and community stories of those who stitched them, embodying hopes and dreams for a bright future in this land. The artistry displayed in these samplers varies widely—from simple schoolchild alphabet samplers to intricate designs featuring diverse scripts and captivating motifs. Researching and collecting samplers has gained immense popularity in recent years, elevating the value and appreciation for these masterpieces. If you’re a sampler enthusiast, you’ll find numerous online resources and kits available to create your own reproductions.
Research into samplers has become increasingly popular in recent years, and the collecting and study of samplers has increased the value and respect for these works. There are many websites for sampler enthusiasts, and kits of materials for making reproductions of old samplers abound.
Get Involved: Submit Your Samplers
If you’d like to contribute to this important project by documenting your samplers, we invite you to use our submission form. Choose between our convenient online submission form or our fillable PDF Sampler Registry Information Collection Form. Please remember that all submissions must include a signed Sampler Registry Owner Form.
- Online Sampler Submission Form
- Sampler Registry Information Collection Form
- Sampler Registry Owner Form (required for all submissions)
Before starting the submission process, we recommend reviewing the online sampler submission form and gathering all necessary information. You’ll find sections for additional written details, so feel free to prepare and paste your text in advance!
If you encounter any challenges while completing the forms, rest assured that we are here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to the EAC/ACB Sampler Registrar for assistance or further information.
Photo Submission Guidelines
For your submission, please include at least one clearly labelled photo of the sampler. We recommend sending high-resolution images, including one photo of the entire piece and close-ups of key sections to highlight the stitches and motifs.
While we prefer digital submissions of forms and photos, you’re welcome to print the forms, complete them manually (please write clearly), and mail them along with your photos to:
EAC/ACB Sampler Registrar
Box 41, RPO Corydon
Winnipeg, MB R3M 3S3
Once your submission is added to our database, you’ll receive a registration number and a certificate to attach to your sampler, ensuring that its history is documented for future researchers.
Photographs & File Naming Tips
Before submitting your photographs, take a moment to crop any unnecessary background areas. All images should be in .jpg format. To help keep everything organized, please rename your photos with the prefix “SAM-” followed by descriptive text similar to these examples:
SAM_Stitcher’sName_SamplerName/Title_ImageArea.jpg
- SAM-CarlottaJohnson-Home_Full.jpg
- SAM-CarlottaJohnson-Home-a.jpg
- SAM-CarlottaJohnson-Home-b.jpg
SAM_Stitcher’sName_SamplerName/Title_OrganizationHolding_AscensionNumber_ImageArea.jpg
- SAM-Unknown-ROM-47535-376-auy-Full.jpg
- SAM-Unknown-ROM-47535-376-auy-a.jpg
Explore the Sampler Registry
Access information and view photographs of the samplers in our online Sampler Registry. If you have questions or need more information about any of the samplers, feel free to contact the Sampler Registrar.
We look forward to celebrating the artistry of samplers together and welcoming your contributions to our growing community!
