Editing Shakers (section)

===Era of Manifestations===
{{Main|Era of Manifestations}}

The Shaker movement was at its height between 1820 and 1860. It was at this time that the sect had the most members, and the period was considered its "golden age". It had expanded from New England to the Midwestern states of [[Indiana]] and [[Ohio]] and Southern state of [[Kentucky]]. It was during this period that it became known for [[Shaker furniture|its furniture]] design and craftsmanship. In the late 1830s a spiritual revivalism, the Era of Manifestations was born. It was also known as the "period of Mother's work", for the spiritual revelations that were passed from the late [[Ann Lee|Mother Ann Lee]].<ref>Christian Becksvoort. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=SvNd-yJUDW0C&pg=PA41 The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style]''. Taunton Press; 2000. {{ISBN|978-1-56158-357-7}}. p. 40.</ref>

The expression of "spirit gifts" or messages were realized in "gift drawings" made by [[Hannah Cohoon]], Polly Reed, [[Polly Collins]], and other Shaker sisters. A number of those drawings remain as important artifacts of Shaker folk art.<ref>Jane F. Crosthwaite, "The Spirit Drawings of Hannah Cahoon: Window on the Shakers and their Folk Art," ''Communal Societies'' 7 (1987): 1–15.</ref><ref name="Schorch">David A. Schorsch and Ruth Wolfe. [http://www.afanews.com/articles/item/1641-a-cutwork-tree-of-life-in-the-manner-of-hannah-cohoon#.Uy8LfIXJH4A ''A Cutwork Tree of Life in the manner of Hannah Cohoon.] AFANews. February 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2014.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
File:Shakers Dancing.jpg|''Shaker dance and worship'', during the [[Era of Manifestations]]
File:Polly Ann Reed, A present from Mother Lucy to Eliza Ann Taylor, 1851.jpg|Polly Ann Reed, ''A present from Mother Lucy to Eliza Ann Taylor'', 1851
File:Hannah Cohoon, Tree of Life or Blazaing Tree, 1845.jpg|[[Hannah Cohoon]], ''The Tree of Light or Blazing Tree'', 1845
File:Jacob Skeen Genealogical Chronological and Geographical Chart 1887 Cornell CUL PJM 2085 03.jpg| A two-sheet religious chart intended to further Shaker education, by Jacob Skeen, 1887
</gallery>

[[Isaac N. Youngs]], the scribe and historian for the New Lebanon, New York, Church Family of Shakers, preserved a great deal of information on the era of manifestations, which Shakers referred to as Mother Ann's Work, in his Domestic Journal, his diary, Sketches of Visions, and his history, A Concise View of the Church of God.<ref>Domestic Journal of Daily Occurrences (1834–46), New York State Library ms.; Sketches of Visions, 1838, Western Reserve Historical Society Cathcart Shaker Collection ms. VIII:B-113; A Concise View of the Church of God and of Christ on Earth, Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection, Winterthur Museum Library, ms. 861.</ref>

In addition, Shakers preserved thousands of spirit communications still extant in collections now held by the [[Berkshire Athenaeum]], [[Fruitlands Museum|Fruitlands]] Museums Library, [[Hamilton College (New York)|Hamilton College]] Library, [[Hancock Shaker Village]], [[Library of Congress]], [[New York Public Library]], [[New York State Library]], the Shaker Library at [[Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village]], [[Shaker Museum and Library|Shaker Museum {{pipe}} Mount Lebanon]], [[Western Reserve Historical Society]], [[Williams College]] Archives, [[Winterthur Museum]] Library, and other repositories.