by Quilt Alliance | Jul 22, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1848, Lester Aglar Walton was appointed as U.S. minister to Liberia. Walton was mainly known as a diplomat and a journalist. He was the first African American to write for a daily paper, the St. Louis Star, from 1902 to 1906. He was also active in the late twentieth century entertainment world as a songwriter and an advocate for other African American artists. Leona Johnson of Monrovia, Liberia hand pieced and hand appliqued this Zinnia Variation quilt in 1992. From this Quilt Index record: The quilt was brought to Flint, Michigan by the maker’s sister’s son, Rev. Emmanuel Bailey. Emmanual goes to Monrovia, Liberia about every 6 months to see his relatives and to work on the building of an orphanage for the victims of war. He put his order in for these quilts last January and then picked them up in August. He brought back 12 quilts this time, took them in mid October to the International Institute of Flint’s fall sale and sold four. We purchased two at $250 each for the MSU Museum. The remaining quilts will be shown Brethren United Methodist Quilt Show in mid-November. Many Liberian quilters are decendents of American Slaves. Popular patterns include the Lone Star and Wig Rose (or Zinnia variation). View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/4500/Walton-Lester-A-1882-1965.html Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 18, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1918, Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist was born in village of Mvezo in Umtata. Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and died in December 2013. Carolyn Crump made this quilt, titled “Courageous,” around 2011 in Houston, Texas. The piece is 43 1/2″ x 56″ and features machine piecing and applique, ink drawing, and painting. Text inscriptions on the quilt include: “Votes for All” “Freedom in Our Lifetime” “Equal Pay For All” “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela” “A Long Walk To Freedom” “Away with Passes” “Post Mandela Life or Death Trial” “Apartheid Unjust 1963 1990” “46664.” The quilt is now in the collection of Michigan State University Museum. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 17, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1955, Walt Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California, built for $17 million on 160 acres of former orange groves. Today more than 14 million people visit Disneyland and spend close to $3 billion. Ellen (or Mary) Cline White hand pieced and hand quilted this Sunflower and Orange Peel quilt around 1840. The quilt was made in California but ended up in Tennessee, where it was documented by the Quilts of Tennessee project. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disneyland-opens Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 16, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1967, comedian and actor Will Ferrell was born in Irvine, California, the son of Betty Kay, a teacher, and Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., a musician with The Righteous Brothers. His parents were both natives of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and moved to California in 1964. Emma Hotchkiss Irvine of Kentucky made this exciting Crazy Quilt in 1883. Emma was a direct descendent, through her father Benoni Hotchkiss, of Ambrose Doolittle, a private from Connecticut during the Revolutionary War. The quilt is now part of the permanent collection of the DAR Museum. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Ferrell Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 15, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1606, Dutch master painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden, South Holland, the son of a miller. Rembrandt, who painted more than 100 self-portraits during his lifetime, lost favor as a fashionable portrait artist, and was bankrupt by 1656. However, after this financial downfall, Rembrandt produced some of his most celebrated works. South African artist Phina Nkosi of Soweto, South Africa, made this quilt, titled “Anti-Apartheid Portraits.” It features portraits of women important in the anti-apartheid struggle. This quilt was included in a national exhibition of crafts shown at the Craft Council of South, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004. It was acquired by the MSU Museum during a bi-national South African Cultural Heritage Project, for which the museum was a lead US partner. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rembrandt-born Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 14, 2014 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1968, Henry “Hank” Aaron, age 34, hit the 500th home run of this career, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 win over the San Franciso Giants. Aaron was born in 1934 in Mobile, Alabama and was a star player in both football and baseball in high school. He was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. An unknown quiltmaker machine and hand pieced and hand appliqued this now fragile Baseball quilt between 1901-1929. It was documented in 1993 as part of the Connecticut Quilt Search Project. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hank-aaron-hits-500th-homer Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
