Works of Art within the University Archives…
This Beaver College Cross Stitch depicts a university building surrounded by trees within the center, just above a scroll that reads the university’s name. Under that lies the phrase “Founded 1853” bordered by flowers. At this time, the university was a women’s school as is depicted by the multiple figures performing sports and extracurricular activities which the school hosted at the time, including: swimming, soccer, softball, dance, field hockey, basketball, archery, tennis, among other things. At the bottom of the frame stands two graduates bordering a diploma. The initials D.M.B. along with the year 1937 sit in the bottom right corner of the cross stitch, indicating the person who stitched the design and when it was completed. All of this lies within two decorative yellow, brown, and white patterned borders.
It is important to note that the figure symbolizing archery is seen dressed in traditional Native American attire, as the sport was used in practice by indigenous people since approximately 500 C.E. Arcadia University, which resides on the Lenape People’s land, has recently released the Arcadia University Land Acknowledgement Statement as a means of addressing the university’s position on respecting the land.
Brynn Simon, Class of 2023
Information from:
“Native Americans Use Bows and Arrows: Iowa Pathways.” PBS LearningMedia, Iowa PBS, 31
Jan. 2021, https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/c0305220-c795-4128-9066-43eabdb87180/native-americans-use-bows-and-arrows/.
