Crafts and artwork made by women of the past make up a large part of the Sutter’s Fort collection, the objects they left behind telling stories of women’s lives that are often absent from the historical record. As March comes to an end, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate not only Women’s History Month, but also Arts Education Month.
In recognition of these occasions, we are highlighting the unique artwork of Anna Kloppenburg, an artist in our collection. Kloppenburg was born in 1858 and lived in Sacramento in her early life; she is listed in an 1895 Sacramento city directory as a dressmaker and artist. Kloppenburg contributed to charitable foundations and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, an affiliate of the Freemasons. She also worked with the Red Cross in 1917 to support the U.S. during World War I. She used her skills as a dressmaker to participate in a sewing circle, making bandages, compresses, and other supplies for the naval base hospital station in Sacramento. She later died in Los Angeles in 1948.
Kloppenburg painted this depiction of Sutter’s Fort prior to, or around, 1890. She used a wood roof shingle (collected by local Henry Fisher Jr. while restoration work was under way at the Fort) as her canvas.
From ruin to restoration, Sutter’s Fort, like any historic structure, requires routine maintenance. This year, California State Parks initiated a $1.3 million-dollar project to install a new roof at the Fort, along with seismic stabilization measures. Perhaps a new shingle needs to be painted to celebrate this milestone?
About the Sutter’s Fort Collection
In addition to the historic structures at Sutter’s Fort SHP, Friends of Sutter’s Fort also is committed the preservation of the many artifacts that are part of the Sutter’s Fort Collection. This expansive collection of artifacts is housed both at Sutter’s Fort, and at the State Museums Collections Center, which is also managed by California State Parks.
