The memorial sampler made by Maria James, a young woman known as the Osage Captive, is one of the most significant needlework samplers in the Museum’s collection. In the early 1800s, after their removal to Indian Territory, Osages and Cherokees waged war against each other. During that time, a four-year-old Osage girl was taken captive and adopted by Blackcoat, a chief of the Cherokees. One day, a white man persuaded Blackcoat that he could give the girl many advantages because he had no children of his own. Unfortunately, the white man soon sold the girl to another who hoped to make a profit by selling her into slavery. In a lucky reversal of fortune, some French boatmen discovered the little girl and organized a posse to recover her and arrest her captor. The young girl was rescued and put in the care of missionaries at Dwight Mission in Indian Territory, where she was given the name Maria James. Maria grew up to become a teacher and married a Cherokee man named William Petit. During her time under the care of teachers at the Dwight Mission, Maria stitched this delicate memorial sampler, dedicated to deceased friends from Dwight Mission School. While there are no traditional mourning motifs on this sampler, she used a mix of silk and cotton threads. Her work was so refined, it is difficult to identify all of the stitches. Repeated patterns used to create the two floral arrangements are twisted chain stitches, stem stitches, and long and short stitches. The Mrs. Sumner mentioned in the last line of stitching was probably Maria’s needlework instructor. The transcription reads: A memorial of grateful affection to the departed friends of my childhood Mrs. Sophronia S. Hitchcock, obt. March 2, 1826. Rev Alfred Finney obt. June 13, 1829 And Mrs. Judith F. Wisner. obt. August 22, 1829. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Through rejoicing in their lot Still shall memory love to weep Oer the venerable spot Where their dear [cold] relicks sleep They rest from their labours. And may their dear associates who remain receive that mercy of the Lord which they showd to the captive outcast. I was a stranger and ye took me in Wrought for Mrs. Sumner by the Osage Captive. Maria James.