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PRESS KIT
The Prescott Girls -
A Letter from Philadelphia
Historical Fiction Inspired by Real Samplers from 1830s Maine
Genre: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 8-12
Author: Aric Wilmunder
Email: [aric@awellregulatedpress.com](mailto:aric@awellregulatedpress.com)
Publisher: A Well-Regulated Press
Website: [theprescottgirls.com](http://theprescottgirls.com)
Book Overview
The Prescott Girls is a middle-grade historical novel set in Maine during the 1830s and inspired by the lives of three real sisters whose needlework samplers survived for nearly two centuries.
After the death of their father, Beckie, Louisa, and little Sallie Prescott leave their home and travel by wagon to the Old Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, Maine, where their family must begin again. The former courtroom becomes their bedroom, the river below the hill carries news from distant towns, and the sisters slowly discover how courage, kindness, and conscience shape the choices they make.
The story draws on real historical artifacts, including samplers stitched by the Prescott girls in childhood, and explores themes of family, resilience, and moral responsibility in early American life.
Illustrated in the tradition of classic works such as the Little House series and The Wizard of Oz, with artwork inspired by nineteenth-century engravings, historically accurate clothing, and a period map, reproduced with permission from university and museum collections.
Historical Background
The story behind The Prescott Girls began with the discovery of several early nineteenth-century needlework samplers at a California auction during the pandemic. Research revealed that the samplers had belonged to members of the Prescott family of Maine and were connected to the extended family of Betsy Ross.
Further investigation traced the lives of the girls who stitched them—Rebecca Goodwin Johnson Prescott, Caroline Louisa Prescott, and Sarah Augusta Prescott. The samplers were eventually returned to the Old Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, Maine, the place where they had originally been created nearly two hundred years earlier.
The novel imagines the childhood experiences of these sisters during the 1830s, combining documented historical details with fictional storytelling.
The discovery also led to ongoing historical research and an article exploring the samplers’ history titled “Six Stitches Through Time.”
About the Author
Aric Wilmunder is a writer and historical researcher whose work explores the intersection of storytelling and artifact research, revealing how small discoveries can illuminate the past.
The Prescott Girls grew out of collaborative historical research conducted with his wife, Lori, an award-winning needlework historian. Together they traced the provenance of the Prescott samplers and worked with historians and museums to better understand their significance.
Inspired by illustrated classics from childhood, Wilmunder created the artwork for the novel using a process that combined digital tools with historical research. Textile experts helped ensure that clothing and visual details accurately reflect garments worn during the 1830s.
Events and Presentations
Aric Wilmunder is available for:
- School visits
- Library readings and discussions
- Historical society presentations
- Museum talks on research and artifact discovery
Possible presentation topics include:
The Discovery of the Prescott Samplers
How a group of early American needlework samplers found at auction led to historical research and a novel inspired by the lives of the girls who made them.
Turning History into Story
How real historical artifacts can inspire fictional narratives while remaining grounded in documented history.
Life in Maine in the 1830s
An exploration of daily life, education, and family life in early nineteenth-century New England.
Presentations can be tailored for students, general audiences, or historical organizations.
Teacher Resources
The Prescott Girls website provides downloadable educational materials for classrooms and homeschool groups, including:
- Discussion questions for the novel
- Historical study guides
- Maps of Maine in the early nineteenth century
- Background on needlework samplers and girls’ education
These materials are available at:
[theprescottgirls.com/teachers.html](http://theprescottgirls.com/teachers.html)
Images for Media Use
The following images are available for event promotion and media coverage:
- Book cover for The Prescott Girls
- Author photograph
- Historic Prescott family sampler (1835)
Images may be used freely for event promotion with attribution.
Contact
For interviews, school visits, or event invitations:
Email: [aric@awellregulatedpress.com](mailto:aric@awellregulatedpress.com)
Website: [theprescottgirls.com](http://theprescottgirls.com)
Publisher: A Well-Regulated Press