January 5 - 10, 2005 - QuiltHistory

Oral History & Documentation, Quilt History Resources

These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

Primary topics of this QHL Digest:

Underground Railroad Quilt Code Debate Intensifies — A wide-ranging exchange over the historical accuracy of the “quilt code” myth, including how it’s being taught in schools. (see the article on Underground Railroad quilts)
An Appraiser’s Health News — Members are asked to keep quilt appraiser Beverly Dunivent in their thoughts after a cancer diagnosis. (see the article on quilt appraisers)
School Lesson Plans and the Quilt Myth — Teachers and historians discuss an 8th-grade lesson plan built around the Hidden in Plain View quilt-code theory. (see the article on quilt folklore)
Quilters Hall of Fame Contest — An announcement about the 2005 Quilters Hall of Fame contest.
Remembering Cuesta Benberry — A note pointing members to a magazine feature on quilt historian Cuesta Benberry.

From: Barbara Burnham

…a source for Trapunto/Shadow Trapunto patterns…

Sue, These books have patterns and instructions for various methods of trapunto, but many quilting and applique designs can be adapted for trapunto:

Trapunto & Stippling Workbook – by John Flynn Surface Textures – Anita Shackelford Boutis & Trapunto – by Catherine Coget Trapunto by Machine – Hari Walner

Also try a search for “trapunto” at www.Alibris.com–more titles to choose from, some out of print.

Barbara Burnham Ellicott City, MD

From: Joan Kiplinger

yes, stock as i quoted is the raw state. saying has many meanings including a person is trustworthy as in will not wash out.

From: Sally Ward

One of the reasons I like my ‘Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable’ for definitions is that, like a website, it gives links to other places. Beneath ‘dyed-in-the-wool’ it suggested I visit ‘Villain’ for the phrase ‘Villain of the deepest dye’. Not one I’ve heard before, but you know exactly what it means <G>.

Sally W

From: “Newbie Richardson”

Lynn and List, It took me a while to remember where I had seen the name of the metallic/cotton mesh fabric used for shawls ( mostly) in the 1920’s. Karen Augusta refers to it as “Asuite”. The shawls do well at auction, good ones make in the $200 range, as they are very wearable today. I think they are Indian – East Indian. The term is not listed in Fairchild’s Fashion Dictionary – Joan do you have a dictionary that defines the term? I do not have as good a 20th c reference library as I do 18th and 19th c. Guess I need to BUY more books..ah, gee. I’ll look and see if Valerie Steele’s brand new three volume fashion encyclopedia has it listed. Mine arrives next week: goody goody! Newbie Richardson

From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>

Newbie — metalcloth was an umbrella name for fabric of this type, two specific names or brand names such as Metlon and Lurex came later than the shawl being discussed. My information came from George Linton’s The Modern Textile and Apparel Dictionary, 1973. The UK gerneric version would be metalline. I will go through Grace Denny and other books from the 1920s-30s to see if any brand names and other generic names are listed.

From: “Charlotte Bull”

Had company over New Year so did not do my traditional New Year’s Eve Scrap Soup. I used to clean out my refrigerator and make soup from everything leftover from the holidays! Start off the year with a clean ‘fridge!!! I finally did it last night after they left!

Years ago I put together a recipe book for my Quilt Guild and I called something very like it: Scrap Soup. I also suggested making a Scrap Quilt from all the pieces of leftovers collected during the year, as a good way to start off the New Year! It is much the same.

A true scrap quilt from the vintage years is charming. Somehow it’s much more fun to look at than the carefully planned 2 fabric masterpieces! My grandkids used to try to count how many pieces actually matched and I do have several charm quilts that have no duplicates. One is an Hour Glass block Charm Quilt made in 1876. An appraiser, who shall remain unnamed, spent 2 hours trying to find duplicates because she was fascinated by the fabrics. At the same time we were searching for those that had suddenly reappeared as new reproduction fabrics. Okay, we were just playing between classes at AQS.

Have fun as you play with scraps, blocks, tops, and quilts in 2005! cb

I just opened our local Lancaster, Pa. newspaper and read that the Lancaster Museum of Art has three new exhibits opening. One is called “Hidden Communication” done by Leola, Pa. artist Richard Howard who “offers a contemporary interpretation of patterns found in quilts used by participants in the Underground Railroad to help guide slaves north.”

And here I thought I had, at one time or another, talked with staff members of all the local historical society and cultural museums in the area to let them know about the reality of the HIPV story.

The Lancaster Museum of Art is located at 135 N. Lime St., Lancaster, Pa. 17602. Phone is 717/394-3497, executive director is Cindy Morrison, and website is www.lancastermuseumart.com . They have a photo of one of the pieces and short description under “exhibitions” on the website.

Apparently the artist is a weaver, and handweaving is a thing close to my heart, and the pictured piece appears to be quite lovely but…. Maybe if they heard from someone from the “outside world” it would have some meaning. I am a bit tired of trying to make my point. A reception is to be held this Friday. Gee, and I will be out of town most of the next few weeks, so I probably won’t see it. That is my excuse anyway.

Discouraged in Lancaster, Pa. (the home of such wonderful quilts!)

Trish Herr

From: Patricia L Cummings

Oh, Trish, what dismal news you bring. The writing is on the wall. Whenever someone can “turn a buck” by exploiting an idea, even though it be undocumented, and most likely false, the person will.

Changing the medium of expression to weaving does nothing to validate this information (about the existence of a secret code amongst slave escapees) as the truth. I hear what you are saying, Trish. I feel your pain. You are not alone.

What is even more amazing is that I don’t hear many African-Americans trying to dispute the “secret code”. Perhaps there are some who quietly disagree, but they do not seem to be outwardly engaged, for the most part, in trying to clear the record. One would think that the individuals in any (cultural) group would want the correct history of their people told. One admirable exception is Reneé Shakespeare, radio show host to “The Drinking Gourd” in Jacksonville, MI. She is the sister of Civil Rights activist, Medgar Evers, who was killed in the 1960s. Last June, Reneé broadcast a four week series, four parts of an interview with quilt historian, Leigh Fellner, who did a remarkable job.

This week, one courageous mother has confronted her daughter’s school over the way in which information about the Underground Railroad is being presented. With her permission, I have added a letter written by our own Dana Balsamo to school officials. The letter is included at the end of an article on my website entitled “Quilt Historians United”, within the larger file of writings about the “Underground Railroad”, accessible at the bottom of the left hand scroll bar. Dana learned today that because of her action, the principal is going to do a review of the curriculum, locally and county wide.

All of our voices need to be heard. To be silent is to lose the chance to share the truth as we believe it to be. Let us not be shackled by fear, or chained fast to misrepresentations. As people who are interested in history, we need to speak out whenever possible.

Pat in snowy NH www.quiltersmuse.com

From: Dana Balsamo

Hi Pat, Thank you! You beat me to it! After a very pleasant 20 minute conversation with the Principal at my daughter’s school, he believes my concerns merit a review of the curicculum. It seems South Brunswick give a lot of wiggle room in their outline for what is required to be taught. So the question is: Is the book “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt” (which by the way, is a wonderful piece of Children’s Fiction) is being taught as a way to historically add interest to 5th graders about the UGRR? Is it being taught as a basis of non fiction? Or just an a fun story to show the trials and tribulations slaves and slave children had to endure and the uncertainty of their future? Once we can conclude whether the book itself is part of the curicculum or if is a recommended resource or if it was just this one particular teacher’s idea to use in the class…then we can proceed. I have expressed my concern that we teach out children the truth, as best as we can, not just with this small topic, but with every topic. I have also offered to put together a teaching aid for teachers who wish to include such literature in their classrooms. We start at the school (Brooks Crossing), then the district (South Brunswick)…the county may be harder…if you know NJ, it’s counties are huge. But you knwo how to eat an elephant, right? So…we shall see where it lead to… The teacher, herself, has not responded to my email, but it’s nice to know someone is validating my concern. If anyone else is working on such a project I would love to work with you. If we can come up with a standard consistant packet, that teachers can recommend to each other, that we can offer on our websites, and take to our schools, it will only give us more credibility.

I want to thank you, Pat, and everyone else who assisted me with links and emails of encouragement.

Hugs, Dana

Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@> wrote: Oh, Trish, what dismal news you bring. The writing is on the wall. Whenever someone can “turn a buck” by exploiting an idea, even though it be undocumented, and most likely false, the person will.

Pat in snowy NH www.quiltersmuse.com

From: Annie

My appraisal partner and coauthor of the kit quilt book, Beverly Dunivent, has been diagnosed as having cancer in her face (not on her face), and is probably going to have surgery and radiation very soon. I am not sure how extensive it is right now. She had complained last year that part of her face felt as though it were paralyzed, and the first thing I thought of was stroke. Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts and I am sure she would appreciate words of encouragement (bevquilts@).

Bev was going to come down to Road to California and we were doing appraisals together, but she obviously can’t come now. I will be there though, and Julia Zliegnic will be there Thursday and Friday with me and Debbie Roberts will be there Saturday and Sunday with me. We hope you will stop by and say hello.

Peace and blessings, Annie

From: “Linda Heminway”

One thing I am glad to see in the description of this exhibit is the word “interpretation”. Did anyone else pick up on that? I think quilt historians ought to use that word often in terms of describing the “folklore” that has developed surrounding this type of quilt. I would imagine, even if the curators of this museum do not believe that the URR quilts actually existed, they felt this artist’s work was noteworthy. It’s probably beautiful. I think many people need to realize that this folklore has become something that will be impossible to “undo” at this point as believers have tended to romanticize this theory. As we know, even our First Lady made statements pertaining to this myth and probably felt it was factual. By the way, was there ever any response to the person who wrote her awhile back? It’s really gotten out of control, I admit. At any rate, this artist Richard Howard heard of this, obviously, and felt the need to do his own “contemporary interpretation”, yet there is nothing in the title of the exhibit, at least, indicating that he feels his own “interpretation” is of a true factual event. When I clicked on the link that was offered in the digest to the museum, it did not work… got one of those “page cannot be found” messages, so I did not view whatever else was said on the museum site. Perhaps the words “interpretation” and “folklore” can be all people in this group can expect to acheive nowadays, considering how far this thing has gone? Just my own thoughts. Linda Heminway in snowy NH

From: Patricia L Cummings

Linda asked:

As we know, even our First Lady made statements pertaining to this myth and probably felt it was factual. By the way, was there ever any response to the person who wrote her awhile back?

Dear Linda:

The answer to that question is “No”. Perhaps she never even saw the letter, or if she did, may have been too embarassed that she made such an error (probably inadvertently, just on the advice of her briefers).

Pat Cummings

From: “Lucinda Cawley”

Hi Trish et al, I just emailed the museum director and asked her to have a look at Pat Cummings website. Last night I sent a similar message to a young man who teaches 8th grade social studies in NJ and had the misfortune to tell me how neat it was that quilts were used in the UGRR. Poor boy! He was trying to be nice and chat about something he thought would interest me. Cinda on the Eastern Shore thinking of Churchill’s words “We will never surrender.”

From: “Lucinda Cawley”

When I clicked on the link that Trish gave I, too, got “page cannot be found,” but it came up when I hit refresh. Try again. The weaving is quite beautiful. Cinda on the Eastern Shore

From: “Andi Reynolds”

Hi List,

” Oh, Trish, what dismal news you bring [about an artist interpreting UGRR symbols]. The writing is on the wall. Whenever someone can “turn a buck” by exploiting an idea, even though it be undocumented, and most likely false, the person will.”

I object to the idea that everyone currently interpreting UGRR and/or its symbols is a fleece artist. There are scads of people not privy to well-researched history who take it into their artistic hearts to create something that appeals to them. They may be misinformed, but they are not necessarily bad people out to perpetuate a myth.

Andi in Keota, Iowa

From: “weemsjm”

I have contacted the Lancaster Museum of Art and asked that they please state there information as myth or theory. I also asked for the evidence to support the claims of slave use of the quilts. I look forward to there response and will share with the list. I am sick of people asking me if I make UGRR quilts.

Jeff ——=

A friend of mine gave me a sheet of quilt patterns that looks like it was printed on exam table paper. There are two different designs on it. They are the Jersey Tulip and the Maltese Cross. It looks like possibly it came on batting? It says,

Lockport Mills, Inc., Lockport, NY To assure complete satisfaction, be sure to specify– Pride or Priscilla batting Two Star Land ‘O Nod Chinook Sleepydown Snodrift Colonial Maid For extra warm comforts ask for Lockport put wool batts at your favorite department store.

After each named batting there is a description of it.

The woman who gave it to me got it from her sister who lived in California and recently passed away.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Sarah

From: KareQuilt@

Stumbled across this site today on the Internet. Though it is not about quilt fabric (yet!), but who knows what the future holds!

Karen Alexander

http://www.usc.edu/isinews/stories/57.html

Quote from this site:

For decades, electronics have been getting smaller and smaller. Now, engineers are turning to one of mankind’s oldest arts — weaving — for a cost-effective way of making certain devices bigger and bigger. The program is a cooperative venture between the University of Southern California and Virginia Tech that is now testing a prototype “e-textile” — a special cloth interwoven with microelectronic components….

From: anthony

Please elet me differ. IMHO, far too much time and energy has already gone into protesting this book. There are hundreds of myths and misinformation out there about quilts and quilting. I can’t help but wonder why it is so important that this particular myth be debunked, squashed, and never spoken of again in any shape, form, or forum.. C’mon… most of our historical accounts are embellished. But I’m still waiting for the cries of outrage about the false story of George Washington and the cherry tree taught in schools everywhere.

African Americans, (an ethnic moniker that includes white people such as Theresa Kerry), have no particular need to join this vendetta. Our survival and ultimate triumph in the face of insurmountable odds is a source of great pride for most black Americans. The fact that the period is being discussed is a great treat for us. But even most of the scholarly underground railroad research concentrates on the white people involved and rarely point out that it was primarily (and by a huge margin) a network of free black folk. Nobody’s organizing protests aginst those half-truths.

I realize that mine is not a popular perspective, but I think the book (Hidden in Plain View) has had a very positive social impact. It captured the imagination of the public and initiated thousands of sincere discussions about the horrors of slavery. In discussing the quilts we also had to ask why the underground railroad was even necessary. Even more important, people were able to really talk about a normally taboo part of our history. Whether or not the “signals” story is true is as meaningless. Just as we know the Burgoyne Surrounded does not really depict the battle strategy of the American militia at Saratoga. It is the cultural by-products of the stories that are really important.

The Age of Slavery was not a time of happy little darkies singing spirituals in the fields while Scarlett and Rhett sipped juleps on the verandah. It was a time when “civilized & god fearing” folk engaged in unimaginable depravities. But also a time of great vision, courage, and sacrifice. A time when many risked their very lives in order to force the country to live up to the promise of those words, “All men are created equal.”. I for one, feel the period needs to be talked about by as many people as possible. And our children certainly need to know their history, lest they repeat it. If it takes Clara and the Freedom Quilt to initiate that discussion, I say, “more power to any school that takes on the challenge.” I wish more schools were as courageous.

anthony

From: Patricia L Cummings

Good morning:

I want to thank the person who wrote to this list and mentioned why Afro-Americans do not dispute the secret quilt code. He provided enlightening information.

I would also like to say, in the instance of one e-mail, my words were totally misinterpreted, which just goes to prove that what people think they have read does not always come out as intended when a paragraph gets extrapolated into “their own words”.

This morning, I received an e-mail that really has me wondering. The person said that Reneé Shakespeare is not the sister of the late Medgar Evers. If that is true, I stand corrected, with apologies to all. I will admit that I passed on hearsay information and did not check any sources, believing the person who told me this to be credible. Reneé is white and in her 40s, I am now told. So, sorry if this has caused any inconvenience.

This whole discussion of the Underground Railroad and quilts is fascinating in the way in which it has recently taken a turn. It is as though people are saying, “Well, we know it is not true, but it has now taken its rightful place among other historical myths. After all, this myth is good because it has redirected attention to a neglected area of America’s history. So what if people are “interpreting” the original story by using other art media? It is keeping attention in the right place!!” Please notice the quotation marks around the previous sentences and realize that it is not me, saying all of that.

I would like to point out that historians study the past and try to determine and record what actually happened. There is no room for fairy tales. However, if it is appealing or comforting to pass along stories of how it “could have been”, “might have been”, or “should have been”, then feel free to continue to feed fabrications to young people and to any other willing adult who “buys” the story because they know no different.

For me, I’m going to take a break from this discussion for now. If people have read all of everything that I and other quilt history scholars have written about this topic, and they still want to believe statements that are contrary to fact, then they can continue to look at the world through rose colored glasses. We have tried our best to set the record straight, but perhaps that is too boring.

Off to do some quilting now. Best wishes to all.

Patricia Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com

From: Karen Evans

A quick reply to Anthony: why protest this particular myth? Because, very simply, the quilt code myth is not a piece of folklore to be labelled as such. It’s a family story that’s been turned into Received History thanks to a popular but not scholarly book, and it is frightening how quickly it’s been accepted as Received history.

Besides, why not protest something that is not true? Why *should* the quilt history community let this go? Quilt historians are going to have to deal with this anyway. Why not attempt to stop it *now*, before our successors have to do the same thing in fifty years?

Karen Evans

From: “Monica MacDonald”

Well, I guess I am just going to have to jump in with my two cents’ worth. 🙂 I believe it is now widely accepted that the cherry tree story is a fabrication. I do not know anyone who is teaching or learning this as fact in school. My daughter is studying the American Revolution right now and I am pleased to find her curriculum corrects many of the common myths on this subject that I had learned in school (Paul Revere, for example). I have mentioned this book before – Founding Myths by Ray Raphael – but think I need to again. He explains much better than I ever could how myths can be harmful and cheat us of our REAL heritage. We NEED to have dialogues about the REAL UGRR. The real stories – about people like Anne Clark, who remembered holes dug in the ground for their stomachs and seeing pregnant women beaten. Children like Henrietta King whose face was crushed by her mistress under a rocker as punishment. (from America’s Women by Gail Collins). The things that slaves did to escape and to survive. I’m afraid that the only impact that HIPV had was to give people an out – it’s as if learning about these soft, comforting fictional quilts are cushioning them from having to find out the whole ugly truth of slavery. I have not seen it initiating further discussion. I have only seen discussions begin and end there. When one tries to take the conversation further, people don’t want to hear it. As for why is this group so concerned with this particular myth? We are a group of quilt historians, more or less. It is a topic near and dear to our hearts. I am quite certain that there are groups of early American historians somewhere out there, wringing their hands and tearing out their hair over Molly Pitcher. There are probably groups of scientists doing the same things over topics I don’t even know are myths! If someone doesn’t stand up to myths and fiction presented as fact, where do you draw the line? We could make up anything at any time and teach it as fact. There has to be some ethic, some integrity, some standard to live by. I say hurrah for the Jeremiah Zeamers among us! He tried to speak up when the Molly Pitcher myth was being formed and got pooh-poohed and ignored. I have no doubt that the UGRR quilt will live on, but hopefully only as a myth, a peculiar little story they told around the turn of the millenium… Whew! I need some coffee! Monica in Maine

From: “Karen Evans”

The cherry tree story was completely invented by Parson Weems. Ditto Abraham Lincoln writing the Gettysburg Address on an envelope, and about a thousand other pleasant stories that have no basis in fact.

I keep wondering just why it’s so bad to protest a myth at its beginnings? As historians and not folklorists, isn’t it our responsibility to speak the truth as it is supported by our research, not perpetuate the myths?

Karen Evans

From: “Monica MacDonald”

On a much lighter note, I just got my March 2005 issue of The Quilter magazine in the mail the other day. Patricia Cummings’ article is delightful – full of information and photographs. It is the second part of Quilts and Needlework with Political Association. There has been a lot of discussion of political quilts on this list lately so I know many of you will be interested. I especially like the redwork Penny Square blocks of Edith Roosevelt and Ida McKinley. Thanks, Pat – when it came I dumped all the other mail on the counter and sat down to read! Monica in Maine

Lockport batting was an early batting company. THey did a book of reproducstion patterns. They are second to Mountain Mist in sales.

From: Dana Balsamo

Hi Anthony and all,

I agree with you in many of your opinions. I want you to understand that quilts and the UGRR is not the only myth I am trying to get school’s to stop teaching, like other’s have mentioned: Molly Pitcher was fictional Paul Revere’s ride is FAR from historically accurate George Washington did not cut down a Cherry Tree Betsy Ross did make the first American Flag Valley Forge was not the hardest winter of the American Revolution (I am reading Founding Myths now and it is fascinating!!)

I want our schools to stop teaching popular believe as truth…include these myths as part of our history, but teach them that these are myths and why we feel we have to believe in them, why they were started.

Most of these myths were started innocently enough…to spirit Amercian People during hard times.

But some were for financial gain (the Betsy Ross myth was started by a family member when he tried to sell her estate, figuring adding this historical tidbit would increase its worth). And Ross did sew many flags, but the first flag was a collaborative effort.

The story related in HIPV was started for financial gain and I find it disgusting that people are trying to continue to make money off it…Ozella Williams sold quilts in a market. Her selling angle was that patterns in her quilts were handed down from her ancestors as patterns used to help them in the UGRR. Patterns obviously more recent than she claimed they could have been. The only good thing about the book is the social impact and that it has us all talking about it.

Eleanor Burns, who prior to this subject, was one of my favorite teachers/designers, has come up with a book and fabric line proprogating the myth. More financial gain.

I want our children to learn about the hardships of slavery. The UGRR. The spirit and courage it took to help themselves to organize and become free, one by one. It is a powerful subject. But I want them to learn the truth.

I have read the book “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt” to my children several times. They understand at their young age slavery was real, horrible conditions were real. The child is taken from her mother! What could be more horrible for a 4 and 7 YO to comprehend? But they also understand that the use of a quilt as a map part is fiction.

Let the schools read it! Focus on the topic. Use it to peak the interests on the children and encourage them to find more information!

In matters of history and science, I prefer to teach children the truth, and encourage them to find it, with questions, with research, rather than spoon feeding them a bunch of half truths and telling them they have to believe it.

I don’t know how best to say this without someone finding this offensive. But to me, it’s not a black/white issue. I am not trying to take away from African American History or minimize the tribulations or take away from African Pride. I am only trying to set the record straight on Amercian History, which, includes all Americans.

I never really paid much attention to the subject. I read all the posts, boycotted the fabric line, and would pass on the information I had learned when I heard quilters talking on the topic at guild or something. But didn’t truly understand how important this was until now it was in my own school system.

I apologize to all those who think the rehashing of this subject is like beating a dead horse. But like it was said before…it got us all talking.

My best to all, Dana

From: “Karen Evans”

At this point I think most Bostonians realize that Paul Revere was only one of three riders that night. Revere was captured and William Dawes broke away from the group and got lost in the unfamiliar countryside. Dr. Prescott, who was a local (he had been visiting his sweetheart when he encountered Revere and Dawes), successfully made it to Concord and warned the militia. And if that cherry tree business is taught anywhere, the teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

Karen Evans

From: Hazelmacc@

Friends of Cuesta Benberry will be delighted to read/hear about her in the latest “Folk Art” magazine from the American Folk Art Museum, New York. The five-page article tells of the outstanding books as well as other items that Cuesta donated to the museum and are now in the Shirley K. Schlafer Library. Cuesta, after a 30-year search, was able to acquire a “Much-treasured volume”: Needlework Through the Ages by Mary Symonds and Louisa Preece. They tell of her search for quilt patterns followed by her research on African American quilts and quilters. There are pictures of Cuesta, covers of books, patterns, and four outstanding quilts – one of which is her own quilt “Afro-American Women and Quilts.” To obtain a copy, write American Folk Art Museum, 45 West 53rd Street, New York, 10019 or phone 212.265.1040.

Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 11:41:36 EST | From: Midnitelaptop@

if you go to: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/historical_myths/

and then for paul revere info go to: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/historical_myths/62233

in fact for a fun hour just go to google search and put historical myths in the search box… jeanL

How is she doing? Please keep us updated, and let her know that she’s on many prayer lists right now.

Karen Evans

From: “Christine Thresh”

This is an 8th grade teacher’s lesson plan on HIPV

http://www.udel.edu/dssep/articles/franomalley_article.htm

Her e-mail address is at the bottom of the page.

Christine Thresh http://www.winnowing.com

From: “Christine Thresh”

The teacher DID include this in her lesson plan.

“Students will also learn how to analyze historical sources with the aim of evaluating the credibility of historical theses.”

That is good. Maybe she needs sources to evaluate the credibility.

> http://www.udel.edu/dssep/articles/franomalley_article.htm > > Her e-mail address is at the bottom of the page.

Christine Thresh

From: Nreedyd@

I am an elementary school teacher in Northern Santa Barbara County, California. I read your email about the underground railroad. I am in the process of writing a curriculum for K-5 on quilting. Please email me if you would like to help me in any way. I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Nancy nreedyd@

Dear List:

I have posted some pictures from a friendship summer spread where nearly all of the blocks appear to be (professionally?) inked. It is from Philadelphia, dated 1854, and was made for a woman leaving home to become a missionary in Damascus, Syria. Her father and brother were both famous Presbyterian ministers, and many of the signatures can be traced in history — professors at Princeton and Rutgers, a chaplain at the US Military Academy at West Point, etc. The inking is very elaborate and each block is a plain off-white fabric that may be silk or a silk/linen blend. The only color is the turkey red shashing between the blocks and the black ink. The squares appear to be somewhat similar to the center squares of the blocks in the Dr. William Hallowell quilt displayed at the Science Place during the AQSG Quilt Mania in Dallas in 2003.

Dr. Marian Ann Montgomery and I are hoping to write a paper either connecting the two quilts or comparing them (or both). Hers is a little earlier, from Northhampton Township, Bucks Co. PA (just north of Phila co.) and may have been made by and for a Quaker. Photos are on the overleaf facing the Table of Contents and p. 48 of the Quilt Mania catalog.

The center square of my quilt is 4 times the size of the rest of the blocks with a large picture and detailed family history similar to what might be in an old family bible. Likewise, the Science place quilt has the dominant large square in the center with the most elaborate inking.

Would anyone be able to help us with additional information on quilts such as these with elaborate pen and ink drawings from the Philadelphia area in the mid-1800s? We would like to know if there are others, and perhaps we could determine the artists for these quilts. We would like to be able to see what the quilts have in common and perhaps determine who the wonderful artist(s) is (are).

I have done quite a bit of work on the folks who have blocks on my textile. There are over 300 blocks and 500 names. The signature squares on the other quilt are pieced into red and white blocks with green sashing, so there are far fewer squares and names. We haven’t yet been able to check if any names are shared, as Marian Ann is temporarily out of her house while remodeling.

Thanks, all. Happy New Year!

Kay Triplett

From: “Cindy Brick”

Hi all, I found an interesting website for information on Masonic symbols, called quite fittingly:

http://www.masonicinfo.com/washington_bible.htm

This particular page will take you to some interesting stuff about the Bible that George Washington swore his oath of office on. And if that’s not enough, there’s a very interesting page on what each succeeding president swore HIS oath on!

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pibible.html

Have fun, Cindy

Waiting here in Colorado for the Big Storm, after a day of high winds and threatening clouds…yowch

BRICKWORKS www.cindybrick.com

From: Judy

Wow! That quilt is incredible. Good luck with the comparison and be sure to share the results!

I also acquired a Quaker friendship quilt recently – from Burlington County, NJ, made for the wedding of Emma Haines and Clayton Brown in 1845 – there are 64 blocks, several of them with inked sentiments but most more simple just with names, sometimes dates and places. With J. G. Row’s help, we have documented a number of the names. The pattern is the simple block pattern often called “Album” and there is a Trenton tape binding. When I get some photos of this monster (more than 100″ square!), I’ll post them to the eBoard. I am trying to find a new home for it in its area of origin but so far no luck.

could you tell me the website to view these quilts? thanks jeanL

From: Dana Balsamo

Hi Nancy, Yes! I am in the process of researching other sites online to see what is already offered, and comparing their pros and cons. I would love to have a teacher’s perspective on this! You will hear from me soon. My best, Dana

Nreedyd@ wrote: I am an elementary school teacher in Northern Santa Barbara County, California. I read your email about the underground railroad. I am in the process of writing a curriculum for K-5 on quilting. Please email me if you would like to help me in any way. I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Nancy nreedyd@

Material Pleasures Affordable Vintage Linens, Lace, Textiles, Buttons & More! www.material-pleasures.com

From: Judy

At 08:01 AM 1/9/2005, you wrote:

>could you tell me the website to view these quilts? >thanks >jeanL

Go to www.quilthistory.com and click on Gallery – choose “Quilts” – these are the last two files.

From: “Judy Anne”

>>I want our schools to stop teaching popular believe as truth…include >>these myths as part of our history, but teach them that these are myths >>and why we feel we have to believe in them, why they were started.<<

This is my feeling exactly. Myths are an important part of culture but we don’t want them to be taught as truth. Children can study how many different secret methods like this were necessary instead of learning it was a historic fact that quilts were used as signals.

In the case of the UGRR quilts there is even a possibility they were used but on such a small scale it was never recorded. I don’t believe that HIPV created the myth. It was floating around as early as the 1940s. Perhaps much earlier. I wish I could find the early source. It would be helpful to know if it came from actual family members remembering quilts being used or perhaps a fictional story in a magazine. I suppose we may never know.

If the woman interviewed for HIPV really did have a family history of quilts being used it had been greatly embellished over the years because the story as is told in the book is not historically possible for many reasons. This is what I object to. The whole country is embracing this book as truth.

When I first heard this book was going to come out I imagined someone had interviewed many families who had shared stories of quilts being used in the UGRR. What a disappointment to find it was just one person with questionable information.

Judy Anne

I got a really heavy box from Beverly Dunivent yesterday containing all the things we had worked so hard on for our kit quilt book. I cried when I saw the box because of the association with Beverly’s illness. I didn’t open it until today because I felt too emotional about it, but today I finally opened it so I could acknowledge the receipt of the package, and I was amazed at how much we had. I guess I had forgotten over the years just how many things we had collected, but it is really a lot. I remember at the time when we were writing how I put out a notice, and people from all over the U.S. sent me their kit quilts to photograph for the book, but I was totally amazed at how many transparencies and also other related literature and photos we have. I am going to start updating the book soon for us. It should be a lot easier now to get the up-to-date information because we have so many more resources at hand.

I think if there are more of us who publish such books, it will be a good thing, for there are so many different aspects of the kit quilt history. I feel a responsibility to complete this project now so that Beverly will have a chance to see the fruits of our labor. We never know how many years, months, or even days any of us have left on this earth. I’ve thought about that a lot since I too have been so ill the past couple of years on and off, so I will take advantage of this period of wellness to get done what I can and find a way to get this published. I looked at all the writing we did, and I felt good about it. As is the case with most writers, we have matured now, and there are some things I would approach differently, but overall I am pleased with most of the information.

It won’t be easy because I have a truly full plate already with the monthly traveling venues for Myths and Legends: Past, Present, and Future; getting my annual competition going for this year (“The Indelible Spirit: Celbrating the Spirit of Physically Challenged Artists”); doing appraisal weekends; teaching and lecturing; and oh yes, volunteering for a couple of organizations, and working almost full-time. But as my mom used to say, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Peace and blessings, Annie

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, Dana. One of the problems today is that people are growing up not learning to distinguish truth from fiction or truth from untruth. I think unless we are exposed to ALL of it and learn to think on our own about what makes sense and what doesn’t, and to question what we read, we don’t get to learn everything. In my day too, we were exposed to a lot of information about the world that was true, and a lot of it that wasn’t. Every single day on the news, we hear things that are true, and some things that are not true, or are twisted to be the way some people want us to believe. We need to read and hear it all and to learn to distinguish the difference between the truth and what is not true; i.e. critical thinking.

I know that despite the fact that I was exposed to all kinds of things that were untrue, I grew up questioning and understanding that not every single word I read and not every single thing I heard or saw was true. I think one of the greatest gifts my parents gave us as children was that my mother and father always told us we should go to many different churches and get to know what they all were like, and that when we grew up we could make a decision about what we would be, but that we should be open to learning about all kinds of belief systems. I am grateful for that teaching because not only did I grow up knowing how to distinguish the truth from what is not true, but I also grew up with a very open mind to thinking about all kinds of possibilities.

In Medieval times, it would have been heracy to think that the world was round. But someone went out there on a limb and said, “What IF the world IS round? What if we don’t sail off the end of the world?” Now everyone alive just about believed that the world was flat. So to them, the world WAS flat. But look what happened in the end. I think it is very sad when we are so stuck in being right that we can’t even consider possibilities or we can’t even consider reading things that may not be factual. Look at all the fairy tales. Look at all the myths that exist and have existed since early in mankind’s existence. They are not based in truth, or are they? How is it that we can create things that have absolutely no basis in reality, when reality is what we know? Well, I am sure I will get some flames from this, and putting me down for misspelling a word here and there, or for being a stupid person who really doesn’t know her head from her feet, but there you have it. My OPINION. And my opinion is as valid as anyone else’s. So I salute you Dana for being a brave and adventuresome soul who is teaching your children in the best ways imaginable. Thank you for being who you are, and you continue to do what you are doing. Peace and blessings, Annie

From: “Kathy Moore”

I’ve looked over the lesson plan Fran O’Malley carefully laid out (see Christine Thresh’s post from Jan. 8) and I have some questions/comments. I found it very interesting and thoughtfully done, but lacking in some ways. I’d like to hear what ya’ll think. Here are my questions/comments.

1. Under objectives 1 and 2, Ms. O’Malley wants students to construct a quilt using the UGRR codes from HIPV and be able to explain their meanings. Procedures 1-5 walk them through the process. Question: How does constructing quilt blocks with construction paper aid in analyzing the truth of the story? It seems to me that it only embeds in the student’s mind the idea that these blocks really do represent that which they are purported to represent. If a student was absent for a day or two after this exercise there would be no way for him/her to know otherwise.

2. In procedure 5 Ms O’Malley introduces alien visitation to planet earth as her challenge to the students’ belief about the HIPV story. Comment/question: It seems a bit jarring and distracting or disorienting! How does alien visitation relate? I realize she’s trying to find a way to challenge the students to rethink their understanding of the story, but wouldn’t real challenges from scholars like Giles Wright work more effectively? Again, a student who is absent for part of this exercise is going to be mighty confused or turned off.

3. Comments: Her sources don’t seem adequate to refute HIPV. I don’t have a copy of Cuesta Benberry’s foreword and I cannot remember what it said. My impression is that she did not try to disuade people from believing in Tobin and Dobard’s thesis. Anyone…?

4. O’Malley’s benchmarks from her state guidelines require that students “Examine historical documents…and analyze them in terms of credibility, as well as the purpose, perspective…or point of view for which they were constructed.” Comments: Her well-meaning but misguided lesson plan seems more constructed to involve students in an art project that has a weak quasi-historical basis. She herself doesn’t seem to have evaluated or questioned the credibility of the story.

I realize these words come across as a strong indictment. I am sorry for that. I didn’t want them to. I really wanted to find redeeming material in this lesson plan, but as it is now constructed I am fearful that she actually accomplishes that which we have all been most opposed to. The scary part is that anyone looking at the lesson plan (like a principal or curriculum supervisor) wouldn’t know that this plan does not accomplish the benchmarks it is designed to meet unless he or she was also well informed about the controversy.

Well, enough said by me. What do ya’ll think???

Kathy Moore Lincoln, NE

From: Karen Alexander

Dear List: Due to some questions I have received about the 2005 Quilters Hall of Fame contest, I thought I would clarify a few things. This year’s contest calls for 225 inches OR LESS (5.715 meters if I have my metric conversion correct) as the “all around” (total of the four edges) required measurement . PLUS, you must use at least 50% of your choice of fabric from Xenia Cord=B9s Bannister Hall Summer House Collection in the TOP. Since the 2005 contest i s to be a wall-size quilt, there is plenty of time to get one done by mid-May . Photos of your entry are due by May 16, You will be notified of acceptance into the contest by June 13. The quilts will hang in Marion, Indiana, July 5-17. The contest form can be downloaded from the QHF website as a Word fil e or a PDF file, your choice. FreeSpirit also has the contest form as a PDF file. As to where you can get the fabric, I suggest that you call the local quilt shops in your area first. Then try searching on Google for it. I woul d suggest entering the following into the Google Search box and see what you come up with: fabric bannister hall http://www.freespiritfabric.com/ http://www.quiltershalloffame.org/ To receive contest form my snailmail, send a #10 self-addressed stamped envelope to: The Quilters Hall of Fame 2005 Quilt Contest P.O. Box 681 Marion, IN 46953 Karen Alexander Press Secretary The Quilters Hall of Fame karenquilt@

Hello from Northcoast Ohio, where we received a lovely 4″ frosting of snow Saturday a.m. We’ve see-sawed back and forth from zero to 55º+ since Christmastime, with lots of ice and river-flooding, snow-shoveling and such to keep us busy. 🙁 I mentioned a few weeks back that I have consented to coordinate efforts to make quilts for the families here in Ohio who’ve lost soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan, just as Linda Heminway is doing for the state of New Hampshire. This is part of a nationwide effort, headed up by Donald Beld of Los Angeles, CA. Ohio has lost 48 soldiers, last count. We will be doing a ninepatch on-point quilt, with signature blocks. I have a Word.doc that illustrates the blocks, quilt layout, fabric choices and such – if you think perhaps you could make some blocks, donate fabric or quilt batting, I would be happy to email the .doc that outlines the project. In Stitches, “Buckeye Bev” Bev Macbeth Grafton, Ohio

Sorry, all. I thought we were supposed to post our pictures on the Quilt History eboard, but I have received a few emails asking where they are posted. They are in the Quilt section of the eboard. I believe this link will get you there:

http://www1.eboard.com/eboard/

Thanks to all for your interest.

Kay Triplett

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005

oh my gosh how pretty are those stamps has anybody reproduced thes e stamps what a resonation! awesome quilt thanks for sharing kay

kerry ins dyneyx

From: MMiller138@

there is a small paperback book just recently published….Presidential Passages…The Use of the Bible in Presidential Inaugurations by Ken Kettlewell…Fairway Press, Lima, Ohio…gives some interesting anecdotes on the use of the Bible and some of the reasons…might be of interest to the list! Mary M. in Ohio

From: Dana Balsamo <danabalsamo@>

Hi Kathy,

It’s a good start. I would use it as a base and go into details…I would have the children make a 2 logcabin quilt blocks (or color the blocks). Make one with a red center, one with a black center. Then turn off the lights (and this is someone else’s idea) and see if the children can distinguish the center color from far away in the dark. This way, you are encourageing the quilt aspect, applying it to the myth, and letting the children see for themselves if it proves or disproves.

I like the alien comparison. Another comparison someone mentioned was relating to the world being flat. It says…”don’t believe everything you hear”.

Cuesta’s foreward in my edition, does not try to refute the story. She discusses how important oral tradition was/is to the African people, and how it was natural for that to follow when they became enslaved here. She considers the Quilt Code that Williams told Tobin was exactly that, oral tradition. I have no doubt there were oral traditions, word of mouth codes and instructions for the UGRR (just not quilt related)…but I think Ms. William either twisted the facts to her own benefit or got a bad bad case of ‘telephone’…AHA! Another game the children could play in the classroom…Break the children up into groups of 5. Tell each one instructions for a code…have them pass it one by one to each other in the group…and see how it differs in the end.

Although O’Malley’s plan does not come right out and refute the myth, she does suggests links that do, which I think is comforting. She is not giving the children the answer…she is making them research it. I like that approach.

I do agree, that because of the degree of involvement in the project and study, a child’s absence would leave them confused…but I think that goes with any subject. I missed a day of algebra and took me forever to catch up!

Thank you for your insight…it has me picking apart this plan with a fine comb.

My best to all, Dana