Abstract:
Shakers are one of the most researched religious intentional community sects in
the Western world. Despite this extensive research and the hundreds of publications,
the small community of White Water Shakers in New Haven, Ohio is underrepresented
in the literature. This community is on the periphery of Shakerdom yet has much to add
to the history of Shakers in America. The analysis of White Water Shaker innovation can
shed light on their importance to Shakerism and regional history. This thesis looks at
the White Water Shakers in the context of history, business, technology, and
architecture as these are categories by which they evolve from standard descriptions of
Shakerism.