Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2007.011.002 |
Object Name |
Quilt |
Description |
This is a quilt made from cotton feedsacks by women in the Cosby Valley near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The quilt documents the work and family group of midwife Luellar Williams (1890 - 1983) and her daughter Dovie Clara Williams (1913 - 2012). The 30 quilt blocks each contain a name, preserving Williams' work as a midwife and her community connections. Between 1929-1962 Louellar Williams delivered 301 babies in Cocke and Sevier Counties. During the early to mid 20th century, Cosby Valley became known for producing a variety of textiles from fabric bags used to transport flours/grains. According to some, this was due to increased amounts of brewing and distilling in the area. Four 100-pound fabric bags of sugar, meal, or flour were needed to back a quilt or make a sheet for the bed. The fan-shaped hand quilting is representative of a quilting style that is specific to East Tennessee. The National Cotton Council was established in 1938 to make cotton a more competitive product. The Council, along with the Textile Bag Manufacturers Association, lauded national advertising campaigns to encourage the use of cotton bags. The associations supplied seamstresses with instructional booklets and enticed them with national cotton bag sewing contests. According to some, the women of Cosby Valley were well-known for the quality and craftsmanship of their feedsack quilts. During the Depression Era, Laurel Springs Christian Church suffered a fire, and the women of the congregation made feedsack quilts to fund the necessary repairs. |
Date |
c. 1940 |
Artist |
Louellar Williams |
Dimensions |
H-81.102 W-0.197 L-66.535 inches |
Collection |
Historic Textile Collection |
Title |
Midwife's Quilts |
Place of Origin |
USA/Tennessee/Cosby |
Material |
cotton |
Subjects |
American Art costume, clothing, and textiles |