Research

Original research, historical documentation, and artifact studies exploring the Prescott family, schoolgirl samplers, the Pownalborough Court House, Betsy Ross's descendants, and the discoveries that inspired The Prescott Girls.

These papers may be read independently, but readers new to the research may wish to begin with The Schoolgirl Samplers in the Ziploc Bag, which documents the discovery that led to the investigations presented here.

Historical Gallery

Before exploring the research papers, you may wish to visit the Historical Gallery, which contains photographs of the original schoolgirl samplers, family documents, portraits, artifacts, and other historical materials referenced throughout this collection.

Historical Research

Research based on artifacts, family records, historic buildings, diaries, portraits, and other primary sources documenting the Prescott family, the Pownalborough Court House, and the history that inspired The Prescott Girls.

Document	Link
The Schoolgirl Samplers in the Ziploc Bag How six schoolgirl samplers discovered in a Ziploc bag at a California auction led to a journey through family history, the Pownalborough Court House, Betsy Ross's descendants, and the return of the collection to Maine.	View
Rebecca Johnson Prescott - Mother of The Prescott Girls Examines the life of Rebecca Johnson Prescott through her 1808 schoolgirl sampler, surviving portrait, family records, and probate documents, revealing the woman whose influence shaped generations of the Prescott family.	View
The Prescott Family Samplers - Seven Generations of Family Stewardship An examination of six related schoolgirl samplers preserved through seven generations of family stewardship, tracing connections among the Johnson, Prescott, Canby, and Betsy Ross families from Maine and Philadelphia to California and back again.	View
Sallie Prescott Goodwin - A Life Beyond the Court House Through her diary, Sallie Prescott Goodwin reveals a world of travel, family, and connection stretching from the old Court House in Dresden, Maine to ports across the Atlantic.	View
The Grandson Who Remembered Betsy Ross Examines William Jackson Canby, grandson of Betsy Ross, and the role family memory, oral tradition, and historical preservation played in shaping one of America's most enduring stories.	View
Pownalborough Court House - 1936 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) An introduction to the complete 1936 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the Pownalborough Court House, explaining all nineteen measured drawings and what they reveal about the building's architecture, construction, and preservation.	View

Historical Interpretation

Papers describing how documented historical evidence was transformed into characters, illustrations, and museum interpretations while remaining grounded in the documented record.

Document	Link
Historical Reimaginings An exploration of how research, character studies, clothing analysis, historic architecture, and everyday objects helped transform the Prescott family from names in historical records into people inhabiting a living world.	View
Practical Guidelines for AI-Assisted Historical Interpretation Lessons learned while creating AI-assisted historic reimaginings, including character development, historical accuracy, image review, narrative storytelling, and museum interpretation workflows.	View
Character Studies - The Cast of the Prescott Girls An examination of the historical evidence, written descriptions, and visual studies used to develop Beckie, Louisa, Sallie, Rebecca, Charity, Reverend Parker, and other figures who inhabit the world of The Prescott Girls.	View