On this day in 1910, William D. Crum, an African American physician from South Carolina, was appointed the U.S. minister to Liberia. Previously he held the positions of delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, and U.S. Collector of Customs in Charleston.
Leona Johnson of Monrovia, Liberia, made this Zinnia Variation quilt in 1992. “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.”
Michigan State University Museum purchased two of Johnson’s quilts from Rev. Bailey for its permanent collection.
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.blackfacts.com/fact/437c4392-71d2-4e53-9fe0-d6c3d5c89f72
Posted by Amy E. Milne
Executive Director, Quilt Alliance
amy.milne@quiltalliance.org