Quilting has been present in America since colonial times. It has transitioned from a purely functional craft aimed at repairing and reusing old fabric to an art form. Often the unique designs that sprung out of necessity in the time of slavery and later on during reconstruction showcase the craft filtered through a black perspective. As the world moved forward so did the craft, and the heritage of black quilters continues to this day. The Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum is located in nearby Carrollton, Georgia and is focused on quilting and quiltmakers in the Southeastern United States. This region has many well-known quilters, notably including the Gee’s Bend Quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, whose enduring legacy shows ingenuity and resourcefulness of black people both past and present.
--Anissa A., Librarian
Sources
Black Threads | Fulton County Library System | BiblioCommons
Search | Fulton County Library System | BiblioCommons
A Brief History of Quilts in America: Piecing Together the Past
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