This day in history: October 29

1837: Quilting

African-American folk artist Harriet Powers External, nationally recognized for her quilts, was born in rural Georgia on October 29, 1837. Using a traditional appliqué technique, Powers recorded local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events on her quilts. Considered among the finest examples of nineteenth-century Southern quilting, Powers’ work is on display at the Smithsonian Institution and is featured in the online exhibition Seven Southern Quilters External.

Lora King’s Hands. Terry Eiler, photographer; Virginia: Meadows of Dan Baptist Church, 1978. Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978 to 1996. American Folklife Center

In 1938, one hundred years after Powers’ birth, Mayme Reese shared her own memories of quilting in turn-of-the-century South Carolina with a Federal Writers’ Project interviewer. Just as the beauty of Powers’ work transcended race and class, Reese’s recollections suggest fine quilting was a skill that Southern women of all classes appreciated. Reese remembered:

Sometimes rich white women would hear that such and such a person had won the prize for pretty quilts, they’d come and ask that person to make them a quilt…Sometimes they’d make it and sometimes they wouldn’t…If they did make it, they’d get around five dollars…Sometimes they’d furnish the scraps and sometimes they wouldn’t. Most of the time, though, they’d buy pieces of goods and give it to the person who was making the quilt to cut up.

[Mrs. Mayme Reese]. Dorothy West, interviewer; New York City, September 21, 1938. American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936 to 1940. Manuscript Division

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General Herkimer Home State Historic Site
From this point, General Nicholas Herghheimer, known as General Herkimer, started August 3, 1777 to take command of the men who assembled in answer to his call to fight in defense of the Mohawk Valley. Placed by the German-American Alliance of the State of New York, June 14, 1912.
Historic New York: Site of the Battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777
The Military Road: Joseph Brant, familiar with the terrain, probably selected the place of ambush where a small stream crossed the military road. The military road of 1777 was about ten rods north of the present highway.
General Herkimer's Troops entered the ravine at this point.
General Herkimer's Troops entered the ravine at this point.
Small bridge crossing the stream on the military road.
Ambush started here: The militia column, on its way to the relief of Fort Stanwix, marched into this ravine, August, 6, 1777, and were ambushed by Loyalists and British. The Attackers came out of hiding in woods on the west, the south and the north.
Ambush started here: The militia column, on its way to the relief of Fort Stanwix, marched into this ravine, August, 6, 1777, and were ambushed by Loyalists and British. The Attackers came out of hiding in woods on the west, the south and the north.
The Rally: Both sides regrouped during a driving rain. Herkimer's troops concentrated here, forming an irregular circle. The attackers were on all sides.
"In the Valley homes was great mourning. For such a small population. In some families the male members were wiped out. It was many a long , weary year before the sorrow and suffering caused by the sacrifices at Oriskany had been forgotten in the Valley of the Mohawk." - Nelson Greene. History of the Mohawk Valley
"Near this spot stood the Beech Tree which during the Battle of Oriskany sheltered the wounded General Herkimer while he gave orders that made Saratoga possible and decided the fate of a Nation. Placed by the Oriskany Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Oriskany and the sons of Oriskany of New York City, June 14, 1912.
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