The Oneida Nation Museum will proudly showcase many original pieces of lace made by local community members, some pieces dating back to the early 1900s.
Through their
exhibits, the story of the Oneida (People of the Standing Stone)
unfolds in a series of displays that explain the worldview and
history of the Oneida. To view the museum and a portion of its
exhibits, click on the photo below for a panoramic
virtual tour.
The Miss Sybil Carter Indian Lace
Association brought the art of lace making to the Oneida area.
Lacework was once a major source of income for Oneida. It was taught
at the Episcopal Church, and the money brought in was used to help
re-build the church after it caught fire.
When the teachers left in 1909, Josephine Webster became the instructor. Her classes averaged from 60 to 100 women. Their lace was submitted to competitions at many different fairs and exhibitions in the early 1900s. They received gold medals at the Paris Exposition in 1900, the Pan-American at Buffalo in 1901, in Milan in 1906 and the Australian Exposition in 1908. The work earned the grand prize, the highest recognition possible, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904.
Today, lace making is staging a subtle
comeback. With the assistance of the Oneida Nations art program,
classes are again being taught to Oneida community members. Please
visit the Oneida Nation
Web site for additional information about the Oneida people, their
history and their culture.
Funding for the Oneida Arts program is provided by The Wisconsin Arts Board. The "Good Message Radio Hour" is a program airing from 10 p.m.-midnight every Thursday on WPNE-FM, 89.3, Wisconsin Public Radio.
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