These artifacts serve as technological and material importance for African Americans during the 19th century. Before the Civil War (1861-1865), the enslavement of African American people was common in the American south. Those people enslaved in the house—who worked as laundresses and seamstresses in the big house, the Enslaver's and Mistress's home—often enjoyed an easier life than those working outside, but it was still terrible. Some enslaved seamstresses became known for their skill and grew popularity within their community. The loom, quilt clamp, and fabric stamp would be seen in many homes 200 years ago.History of EnslavementCa 19th century Bonnet Loom “Loom,” Vermilionville Educational Enrichment Program, Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park collections. The loom is a hand operated machine with every piece designed for making cloth from thread. The cloth was for dresses, and plain and patterned head wraps. Charles Crawley, an ex-enslaved African American of Petersburg, Virginia recalls that his enslaver would teach a select few of them how to make their clothing and they would pass it along to others. This is how enslaved African Americans would make their clothes. Check out this interview in the Federal Writers' Project listed below. Primary Sources Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virgina, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. Appleton, Nathan. Introduction of the Power Loom and Origin of Lowell. Various publishers, 1858. Federal Writers' Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 16, Texas, Part 4, Sanco-Young. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn164/. Quilt Clamp “Quilt Clamp,” Vermilionville Educational Enrichment Program, Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park collections. This is an antique quilting frame clamp, which plays the small and important role of holding the quilting frame together at all four corners. Making quilts kept enslaved peoples warm during the cold winter months. Enslaved African Americans made quilts for the plantation family, sometimes under the supervision of the plantation mistress. Rachel Adams, an ex-enslaved woman explained in an interview that a source of entertainment was a quilting party in which they would travel to a person's home to quilt blankets for the winter. This can be read in the Slave Narrative Project below. Primary Sources Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 4, Georgia, Part 1, Adams-Furr. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn041/. The Orangeburg News. (Orangeburg, SC), Nov. 11, 1871. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn8402692/1871-11-11/ed-1/. Holt. Carter. 1899. A Start for the New Year. The Lafayette Advertiser. (Lafayette, LA), Jan. 7. Fabric Stamp “Fabric Stamp,” Vermilionville Educational Enrichment Program, Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park collections. Wood block printing is a method of transferring a design to a cloth, creating a reproducible pattern as a border or covering the cloth. This wood block fits into one hand, would be dipped into colors and then stamped onto the material. The San Francisco Call newspaper in 1909 reads, "It is interesting to remember that wood block printing is hundreds of years old" and has been used by African Americans throughout history. Primary Sources Unknown Author. Unknown date. Wood Block Printing A New Accomplishment for Young Girls. The San Francisco Sunday Call. (San Francisco, CA) Watanabe, Shōzaburō, Artist. The Process of Color-Block Printing. Japan, None. [Tokyo: s. watanabe, between 1940 and 1960] https://www.loc.gov/item/2018646117/. Sittsenabivnoe proizvodstvo. Obraztsy shtambov sic kalibkhai chitgari. Asia Central, None. [Between 1865 and 1872] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007678881/. References
Broad and High. “ARTifacts: Traditional 19th Century Quilts.” YouTube video, 4:02. May 25, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izkRdRPZX2g&feature=youtu.be. “French Star or Native American Star?” Discover Vintage America | Covering Quilts, n.d. Accessed October 14, 2020. George Wahsington’s Mount Vernon. “Weaving on Mount Vernon's 18th Century Loom”. YouTube video, 3:45. October 21, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnbUF0wgIfw&feature=youtu.be. LeBlanc, Gladys, Clark Bourque , and Elaine Bourque. “Folklife in Louisiana Keeping It Alive .” Folklife in Louisiana, 2015. Serrell, B. (2015). Exhibit Labels. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefie “Quilt Godey Lady's Book .” Google Drive. Google, June 1880. History.com Editors. 2020. “Slavery in America.” HISTORY. A&E Television Networks. September 29, 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery. |
