Get documents about "PowerPoint Presentation
Document Sample
America’s Quilting History
Could quilting
teach us
something about
our history?
Let’s find out !!!!
Mrs. Bill Stagg with state quilt that she made, Pie Town, New Mexico - 1940
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
When the early pioneers traveled west, quilts were used
by the women in several different ways. Looking at this
photo, can you name some of those ways?
Wagon Train between Echo Head & Hanging Rock – 1867
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
Did you think of this one?
New settlers hung quilts over the openings of the wagons to keep
arrows from being shot in during battles with American Indians.
The Indian war : Indians attaching [i. e. attacking] a wagon train. Harper's Wkly. Sept 19, 1868 p. 601.
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
After the weary
travelers finally
settled, the women
realized that the
need for quilts was
still very real.
Pioneer women
worked quickly
to make more
quilts before
winter set in.
Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters (1862-1912) Collection
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
Because the homes
were very cold in the
winter, having several
quilts on all the beds
was a necessity.
Quilt made by Elsie Rich in the pattern Double Wedding Ring - 1994
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
In those early days,
women used any
material possible to
make quilts.
What do you think was used
to make the backing for
this quilt?
Quilt back … 1978
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
This is an example of a log cabin quilt.
Let’s find out how it could be a part of history.
Log Cabin quilt, detail
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
Harriet Tubman was a
runaway slave from
Maryland who became
known as the “The Moses
of her people”
How do you think she got
this name?
Harriet Tubman, full-length portrait, standing with hands on back of a chair
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
Using the
“Underground
Railroad” (a secret
network of safe
houses where
runaway slaves
could stay on their
journey North),
Harriet Tubman
led hundreds of
slaves to freedom.
The Underground Railroad (1850 – 1870) – image created circa 1893
Image Source: Library of Congress
The story is told, that if
runaway slaves saw a log
cabin quilt with a black center
for the chimney hole, hanging
in a window of a home, this
meant the home was a “safe
house” for slaves.
Mother of tenant purchase client piecing a quilt. Maricopa County, Arizona - 1940
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
THE CIVIL WAR
Believe it or not,
quilts also played
an important role
in the Civil War.
Can you think of
how?
Portrait of soldier on horse
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
These are just a few of the thousands of men who
fought in the Civil War.
Do you think they had need of quilts?
Petersburg, Va. Company H, 114th Pennsylvania Infantry (Zouaves) - June 1864-April 1865
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
This is the type
of place the
soldiers slept.
Do you see the
need for quilts
now?
Fort Burnham, Va., vicinity. Camp of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry near the battlefield of Oct. 29, 1864
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
During this four
year long war,
tens of thousands
of men were
wounded or dead.
The women and
young girls at
home, knew they
would need
blankets and quilts.
Fredericksburg, Va. Wounded from the Battle of the Wilderness - 1864
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
THE SANITARY COMMISSION
Men and women
from both sides of
the war wanted to
help. The Sanitary
Commission was
established so they
could.
Fredericksburg, Va. Nurses and officers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission - 1864
Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
The Sanitary Commission did many things to help in the war effort.
Can you think of the ways they helped?
1. They collected all the quilts that were donated.
2. They raised money to buy materials to make the soldiers bedding.
3. They worked non-stop to sew as many quilts as possible.
By the end of the war, it is estimated that over 250,000 quilts
and comforters had been made for Union soldiers alone!
There are still some today that could
teach us a lot about this art of quilting, if we
will only take the time to listen and learn.
So, let’s take advantage of their wisdom and experience!!!
Click on speaker to go to the
Library of Congress and hear
Learning to Quilt [Audio]
Left: Grandmother and Granddaughter with Nine-Patch Quilt; Right: Fannie Lee Teals with her red, white, and blue American Revolution Bicentennial quilt
Images Source: Library of Congress – American Memory
