Wet or Dry, A Friend Am I
On this day in 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” The movement to ban alcohol actually began in the early 19th century led by rural Protestants. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition.
This Crazy Quilt was made around 1889 by an unknown quiltmaker. Two of the blocks include printed ribbon reading “Prohibition,” and another block is embroidered with this inscription: “Wet or Dry, A Friend Am I. F.” The foundation of the quilt is made of flour sacks with printing that identifies two flour companies from Tennessee. The quilt was donated to the Texas Memorial Museum sometimes between 1950-1959 and is now part of the Winedale Quilt Collection at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin.
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/prohibition-takes-effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States
Posted by Amy E. Milne
Executive Director, Quilt Alliance
amy.milne@quiltalliance.org