Our Purpose

To promote the art of African American Quilting
To preserve, conserve and document the importance of African American Quilting
To keep the art of Quilting alive by teaching our youth about its importance
Exhibiting our quilts to show a timeless art
Promote friendship, fellowship, and a common interest

Our History

After attending a presentation by the "Quilt Lady," Mrs. Craig at the historic Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center in Newport News, Virginia, several of us who were in attendance (eight) decided to form a quilting guild. A few of the eight could not sew, thread a sewing machine, or read a
pattern, but we all had the desire to quilt. After making contact with a quilting teacher, we took a six-week class in basic quilting. It was off to the races after that. Our guild was formed with eight founding members in March of 1993. We have had up to fifteen members at one time.

Our quilts have been featured in shows in Virginia and Pennsylvania. We have had three shows at the Newsome House. We were one of many African- American quilting groups to be featured in Roland L. Freeman's recently published book entitled "A Communion of the Spirits." One member's quilted wall hanging is featured in Carolyn Mazloomi's book entitled "Sprits of the Cloth."

We participate in community projects and teach workshops and classes. Each member is responsible for teaching at least one class during the year at a guild meeting. Our community involvements include speaking to groups to promote the art of Quilting and helping dispel the myth of what African American Quilting really is. Recently the members made quilts for the residents of a nursing home in Hampton, Virginia.

Many stories have been passed down over the years about events that took place during slavery time in relation to quilts. The Underground Railroad existed because there were many people who opposed slavery. Some of those who opposed opened their homes as safe resting places for escaping slaves. Stories that have been passed down, point to people hanging quilts on the clothes line or fence to denote a safe house. It is believed that certain blocks sewn into the quilt could be easily recognized by the slaves.

We chose the block named "54-40 or Fight" as our logo, and named our guild the "54-40" because it's name represented change as an outgrowth of protest. It was during the James Polk Presidency that the phrase "54-40 or fight" was coined. This block was conceived as a symbol of support for Polk's presidential policies as well as making a political statement in support of women's rights. Stories passed down hint that the "54-40" block was one used in quilts during the Underground Railroad period. The accuracy of this story has not been documented. However, we chose this block as
our logo and selected it's colors (red, black, green the colors of freedom) as a tribute to all of those who walked to freedom along the Underground
Railroad.

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This page was last updated on: Saturday, February 17, 2007