On This Day in History Quilt for April 10.

On this day in 1866 philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York City. Bergh witnessed cruelty to work horses during his diplomatic post in Russia and was determined to get anti-cruelty laws passed back in the United States. The ASPCA was based on a similar organization in England, and it quickly became the model for more than 25 other humane organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Desiree Dianne Habicht of Riverside, California made this quilt, titled “ Forever Aligned” in 2011 for the annual Quilt Alliance contest. The quilt was dedicated to her daughter Jennifer. Habicht wrote in her artist’s statement: “As kennel manager of a no-kill shelter she rescued hundreds of animals earning her the nickname of “Schindler”. Tragically in 2000 Jennifer was struck by a drunk driver. It was now the animals turn to rescue Jennifer. The love she felt for them and the love they gave back to her helped her to come out of her coma and find a reason to survive.

View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view.

Sources:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aspca-is-founded

Posted by Amy E. Milne
Executive Director, Quilt Alliance
amy.milne@quiltalliance.org