Gertrude Whiting

Whiting was born in 1882 in New York City.^[2] She was introduced to lace by her aunt at a young age.^[3] She attended the Rye Seminary and graduated from Hollins University.^[2] She studied needlework in Switzerland, England, and Nova Scotia.^[2] In 1951, Whiting died in New York City at the age of 69.^[2]

After returning to the United States, Whiting found lace was not as popular in the country compared to Europe.^[3] Through her connection with Frances Morris, the assistant curator of lace at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she connected lace enthusiasts together through the newly formed Needle and Bobbin Club in 1916.^[3] The club amassed 200 members within its first year.^[3]

As a lacemaker, Whiting compiled an early catalog of the various stitches used in typical bobbin lace patterns, which also displayed various regional styles of lace bobbins.^[4] Her original sampler can be found in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and reproductions of the sampler were included in a pocket of the guide book she published.^[5]

Whiting was invited by an examiner from the Indian Department of Education and Industry to advise in the country's economic development of lace making.^[6] She re-introduced lace making to women in rural India.^[2] The Whiting India Guilds continued to exist until 1965.^[1] In 1940, Whiting was honored for her work by becoming a fellow of the British Royal Society of Arts.^[2]