page_title: Mary Electa Allen
section_title: Involvement with the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement
hierarchical_section_title: Mary Electa Allen / Photography and career / Involvement with the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement
caption_attribution_description: English: Title: Colonial glassware, specimen illustratons / Allen. Abstract/medium: 2 photographic prints (1 board)&#160;: platinum&#160;; 10 x 18 cm. (top image) and 11 x 17 cm. (bottom image) mounted on single gray board, 28 x 23 cm.
context_page_description: Mary Electa Allen was an American photographer and co-founder of the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework. She worked alongside her sister as a photographer from 1885 till 1920 capturing the life and landscape of Old Deerfield, among other subjects and paid commissions.
  Her work was critical for the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement which began in the late 19th century. She captured the life and work of the artists and craftspeople, wrote extensively about the movement's progress, and illustrated their work through photographs in magazine articles.
context_section_description: The Arts and Crafts movement began in England in the wake of industrialization in the 19th century through the efforts of A. W. N. Pugin (architect and designer), John Ruskin (theorist and art critic), William Morris (textile designer, writer, and social activist), and their fellow associates. Their ideas eventually influenced the American arts and crafts community with the movement taking roots in different cities and towns. In June 1987, a Society of Arts and Crafts was formed in Boston. This was followed by the formation of other societies in Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, Deerfield, among others.
  While both the Allen sisters were actively involved with the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement, Mary played a critical role in its development and progress in their small rural town. They both photographed the happenings related to the movement, including people working at their arts and crafts, and cataloging the pieces their townspeople produced.
  Mary abandoned photography for some time to co-found with three other people the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework, an organization dedicated to producing embroidered textiles. In 1896, she designed the organization's trademark seal, the letter 'D' placed over a flax wheel, which was embroidered on all the items put up for sale.
  She was also involved with the Society of Deerfield Industries, working as its treasurer between 1901 and 1919, and serving as a member of the executive committee till 1923. Mary actively promoted the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement by writing articles about it or illustrating articles written by others using the pictures captured by both sisters.
  In September 1892, an article written by Mary was published in the New England Magazine. The article titled 'Old Deerfield' was pivotal in placing the rural historic town on the tourist map. The flow of tourists and the rising popularity of the Misses Allen helped them sell their photo prints and provided an opportunity to other residents to sell their craft.
caption: Colonial glassware
exif: {}