Militant Needles - 1984 Quilt Exhibit

Going through old files, I came across this photocopied program quilt historian Joyce Gross sent to me. It's for "Militant Needles: An Exhibit of Slave-Made Quilts" curated by Gladys-Marie Fry, Ph.D. The 1984 exhibit featured eight quilts:

1. Floral Quilt, 1852, stitched by a slave called "Yellow Bill"
   
2. Eight-Petal Flower or Snowflake Quilt, early to mid-19th c., owned then by Mrs. Irma Koski of Arlington, VA
3. another Eight-Petal or Snowflake Quilt, also owned by Mrs. Koski
4. Tulip Quilt, circa 1850, collection of Mrs. Mildred Guthries, Snow Camp, NC
5. Holly Quilt, mid-19th c., collection of Dr. Fry
6. Carolina Lilly Quilt, 1847 - 1852, Collection of Bonnie Cooper Banks, Shaker Heights, OH
7. North Star Quilt, also 1847 - 1852, Collection of Bonnie Cooper Banks
8. Strip Design Blanket, circa 1890, collection Kenneth Combs, Cleveland, OH

I sometimes wonder why I'm so driven to keep these bits of paper documenting African American quilt history. Then, I re-read this program on July 4th about "Militant Needles" and slave-made quilts and know it's worthwhile! Happy July 4th!