Abstract
While there are many significant stories about the founding of the Harvard Shaker community, certainly the tale of Shadrach Ireland and the building of the Square House remains among the most intriguing. With differing titles and slight variations, they all tell the intriguing story of Shadrach Ireland and the Square House. There are at least eight manuscript versions, and one published version. Because most of these are found among several manuscript collections of testimonies and biographies (Series VI and VII of the Western Reserve Historical Society Shaker Collection), there is good reason to believe that this story belongs in the tradition of the Shaker testimonies. By putting them in chronological order and noting the differences a much richer and nuanced tale emerges.
Date
4-1-2025
Volume
19
Number
2
First Page
73
Last Page
98
Journal Title
American Communal Societies Quarterly
ISSN
1939-473X
