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 - 1940Image 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 – 1867Image 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 wearytravelers finally

settled, the womenrealized that the

need for quilts wasstill very real.

Pioneer womenworked quicklyto make more quilts beforewinter set in.

Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters (1862-1912) CollectionImage Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

Because the homeswere very cold in thewinter, having severalquilts on all the beds

was a necessity.

Quilt made by Elsie Rich in the pattern Double Wedding Ring - 1994Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

In those early days, women used any

material possible tomake quilts.

What do you think was usedto make the backing for

this quilt?

Quilt back … 1978Image 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 chairImage 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 1893Image 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 - 1940Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

THE CIVIL WAR

Believe it or not,quilts also playedan important role in the Civil War.

Can you think ofhow?

Portrait of soldier on horseImage 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, 1864Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

During this fouryear long war,

tens of thousandsof men were

wounded or dead.

The women andyoung girls at

home, knew theywould need

blankets and quilts.

Fredericksburg, Va. Wounded from the Battle of the Wilderness - 1864Image Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

THE SANITARY COMMISSION

Men and women from both sides ofthe war wanted to help. The Sanitary Commission was

established so they could.

Fredericksburg, Va. Nurses and officers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission - 1864Image 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 quiltsand comforters had been made for Union soldiers alone!

There are still some today that couldteach 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!!!

Left: Grandmother and Granddaughter with Nine-Patch Quilt; Right: Fannie Lee Teals with her red, white, and blue American Revolution Bicentennial quiltImages Source: Library of Congress – American Memory

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Learning to Quilt [Audio]