Henry Clay Blinn (July 16, 1824 – April 1, 1905) was an American

Shaker Shaker or Shakers may refer to: Religious groups * Shakers, a historically significant Christian sect * Indian Shakers, a smaller Christian denomination Objects and instruments * Shaker (musical instrument), an indirect struck idiophone * Cock ...

leader, writer, and artist. Blinn was a native of

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

, and began his career apprenticed first to a tailor and then to a jeweler in that city. In 1838 he joined the Shaker community in

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

, where he would remain for the rest of his life. In 1841 he became boys' caretaker, a job he was forced to give up in 1849 when he was assigned to the print shop. Soon he returned to the caretaker position, only to leave it in 1852 upon his appointment as Second Elder under Robert Fowle. Three months later he became a member of the Ministry as second to Elder Abraham Perkins. He became First Elder of the Church Family in November 1865, and took charge of the public meeting in 1865, remaining in that role until public meeting at Canterbury ceased in 1889. During his life Blinn occupied various roles including printer, typesetter, publisher, writer, teacher, beekeeper, dentist, tailor, tinware maker and repairer, and cabinetmaker. He edited the Shaker Society's monthly journal, ''The Manifesto'', and chronicled the community's history. He was also a maker of illustrated maps, although only three examples are known from his hand. They depict Canterbury and two communities in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, Watervliet and New Lebanon, and are counted among the most important of their type. The image of Canterbury, made in 1848, is the largest and most elaborate of all such Shaker maps at nearly seven feet in length. As a printer he produced, among other things, a pair of miniature books for children, ''The Little Instructor'' and ''Dew Drops of Wisdom''. He also edited two hymnals, ''A Sacred Repository of Anthems and Hymns'' of 1852 and ''A Collection of Hymns and Anthems Adapted to Public Worship'' of 1892. Blinn was a mentor to

Cora Helena Sarle Cora Helena Sarle (1867–1956) was an American Shaker artist. She was known by her second name as Helena Sarle. Sarle was a native of North Scituate, Massachusetts. She became a Shaker at fifteen, in 1882, joining the community at Canterbury, ...

in her early years at Canterbury, and was responsible for introducing her to the art of botanical illustration. Blinn's 1839 map of New Lebanon is currently owned by the American Folk Art Museum. Several pieces of his cabinetry survive as well, including a sewing desk of about 1870, a dining table, a slant-front desk, and a large secretary, among other surviving pieces. Several items by his hand, including copies of the miniature books, are in the collection of the Shaker Museum, Mount Lebanon.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blinn, Henry Clay 1824 births 1905 deaths American male painters 19th-century American painters American male non-fiction writers 19th-century American male writers 19th-century American non-fiction writers Writers from Providence, Rhode Island People from Canterbury, New Hampshire Writers from New Hampshire Artists from Providence, Rhode Island Painters from New Hampshire Religious leaders from Rhode Island Religious leaders from New Hampshire Painters from Rhode Island Shaker members 19th-century American male artists