Margaret Olofsson Bergman was born June 22, 1872 near Rorosjon in Jamtland, Sweden. She learned to weave at the age of seven from her mother, Maria Einarsdotte, who wove for the local community.
In December 1901, at the age of thirty, Margaret immigrated to the United States. One month later, she wed John Bergman in Seattle.
They moved to homestead near Breidablik (Big Valley Road), a Scandinavian settlement north of Poulsbo. They build a home, and farming, and raised six children. Around 1914, after an absence of thirteen years while she raised her family, Margaret returned to weaving.
Margaret conducted weaving schools in Tacoma, and Annapolis, Washington, as well as seminars throughout the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia. In 1935, her students in Tacoma formed the first weaving guild in the western United States; she was instrumental in the formation of the Seattle Guild (1937) and the Kitsap County Guild (1938).
To meet student demands for weaving equipment, she designed and patented two looms.
Both the Bergman Suitcase loom (1933) and the Bergman Floor loom (1936) employed unique folding frames, enabling the collapse of the loom even when fully warped. Loom production quickly became a family enterprise and Margaret's son Arthur joined his father in running Bergman Looms in 1936.
Margaret Bergman's importance as a weaver stemmed from her willingness to share her knowledge.
Much of her original patterns were never published as she devoted her time to teaching her craft, not documenting her work and techniques.
At the 1947 National Weavers' Conference in Salem, Oregon, where Margaret Bergman was honored for her contributions to American weavers.
Margaret continually refined her skills, working at the loom until just a few weeks before her death on July 18, 1948, at the age of 76.
Arthur Bergman, her son, continued to build Bergman Looms until the early 1970s. Throughout that time, Arthur preserved his mother's weaving legacy by demonstrating her techniques and caring for her textile collection, which he donated to the Nordic Heritage Museum in 1992.
In December 1901, at the age of thirty, Margaret immigrated to the United States. One month later, she wed John Bergman in Seattle.
They moved to homestead near Breidablik (Big Valley Road), a Scandinavian settlement north of Poulsbo. They build a home, and farming, and raised six children. Around 1914, after an absence of thirteen years while she raised her family, Margaret returned to weaving.
Margaret conducted weaving schools in Tacoma, and Annapolis, Washington, as well as seminars throughout the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia. In 1935, her students in Tacoma formed the first weaving guild in the western United States; she was instrumental in the formation of the Seattle Guild (1937) and the Kitsap County Guild (1938).
To meet student demands for weaving equipment, she designed and patented two looms.
Both the Bergman Suitcase loom (1933) and the Bergman Floor loom (1936) employed unique folding frames, enabling the collapse of the loom even when fully warped. Loom production quickly became a family enterprise and Margaret's son Arthur joined his father in running Bergman Looms in 1936.
Margaret Bergman's importance as a weaver stemmed from her willingness to share her knowledge.
Much of her original patterns were never published as she devoted her time to teaching her craft, not documenting her work and techniques.
At the 1947 National Weavers' Conference in Salem, Oregon, where Margaret Bergman was honored for her contributions to American weavers.
Margaret continually refined her skills, working at the loom until just a few weeks before her death on July 18, 1948, at the age of 76.
Arthur Bergman, her son, continued to build Bergman Looms until the early 1970s. Throughout that time, Arthur preserved his mother's weaving legacy by demonstrating her techniques and caring for her textile collection, which he donated to the Nordic Heritage Museum in 1992.
Margaret Olofsson Bergman was born June 22, 1872 near Rorosjon in Jamtland, Sweden. She learned to weave at the age of seven from her mother, Maria Einarsdotte, who wove for the local community.
In December 1901, at the age of thirty, Margaret immigrated to the United States. One month later, she wed John Bergman in Seattle.
They moved to homestead near Breidablik (Big Valley Road), a Scandinavian settlement north of Poulsbo. They build a home, and farming, and raised six children. Around 1914, after an absence of thirteen years while she raised her family, Margaret returned to weaving.
Margaret conducted weaving schools in Tacoma, and Annapolis, Washington, as well as seminars throughout the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia. In 1935, her students in Tacoma formed the first weaving guild in the western United States; she was instrumental in the formation of the Seattle Guild (1937) and the Kitsap County Guild (1938).
To meet student demands for weaving equipment, she designed and patented two looms.
Both the Bergman Suitcase loom (1933) and the Bergman Floor loom (1936) employed unique folding frames, enabling the collapse of the loom even when fully warped. Loom production quickly became a family enterprise and Margaret's son Arthur joined his father in running Bergman Looms in 1936.
Margaret Bergman's importance as a weaver stemmed from her willingness to share her knowledge.
Much of her original patterns were never published as she devoted her time to teaching her craft, not documenting her work and techniques.
At the 1947 National Weavers' Conference in Salem, Oregon, where Margaret Bergman was honored for her contributions to American weavers.
Margaret continually refined her skills, working at the loom until just a few weeks before her death on July 18, 1948, at the age of 76.
Arthur Bergman, her son, continued to build Bergman Looms until the early 1970s. Throughout that time, Arthur preserved his mother's weaving legacy by demonstrating her techniques and caring for her textile collection, which he donated to the Nordic Heritage Museum in 1992.
In December 1901, at the age of thirty, Margaret immigrated to the United States. One month later, she wed John Bergman in Seattle.
They moved to homestead near Breidablik (Big Valley Road), a Scandinavian settlement north of Poulsbo. They build a home, and farming, and raised six children. Around 1914, after an absence of thirteen years while she raised her family, Margaret returned to weaving.
Margaret conducted weaving schools in Tacoma, and Annapolis, Washington, as well as seminars throughout the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia. In 1935, her students in Tacoma formed the first weaving guild in the western United States; she was instrumental in the formation of the Seattle Guild (1937) and the Kitsap County Guild (1938).
To meet student demands for weaving equipment, she designed and patented two looms.
Both the Bergman Suitcase loom (1933) and the Bergman Floor loom (1936) employed unique folding frames, enabling the collapse of the loom even when fully warped. Loom production quickly became a family enterprise and Margaret's son Arthur joined his father in running Bergman Looms in 1936.
Margaret Bergman's importance as a weaver stemmed from her willingness to share her knowledge.
Much of her original patterns were never published as she devoted her time to teaching her craft, not documenting her work and techniques.
At the 1947 National Weavers' Conference in Salem, Oregon, where Margaret Bergman was honored for her contributions to American weavers.
Margaret continually refined her skills, working at the loom until just a few weeks before her death on July 18, 1948, at the age of 76.
Arthur Bergman, her son, continued to build Bergman Looms until the early 1970s. Throughout that time, Arthur preserved his mother's weaving legacy by demonstrating her techniques and caring for her textile collection, which he donated to the Nordic Heritage Museum in 1992.
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