QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-1056

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

00.0633

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2000:67.1

Object label:

Idlewild
Deonna Todd Green
Remus, Mecosta County, Michigan
c2000
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2000:67.1

Essay:

Idlewild, located in rural northwestern Michigan, holds a special place in the nation's segregated history. For many years, this "Black Eden" was one of only a few resorts in the country where African-Americans could vacation and purchase property. From 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals from throughout the country. At its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest and as many as 25,000 would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating and night-time entertainment. When the 1964 Civil Rights Act opened up other resorts to African-Americans, Idlewild's boomtown period subsided but the community continues to be an important place for vacationers and retirees. Idlewild also holds special meaning as a place for younger generations of African-Americans seeking to learn about their heritage.

DeonnaGreen’s quilt commemorates Idlewild. The embroidered blocks tell the story of Idlewild, including depictions of historical buildings, the names of entertainers who performed in Idlewild, and portraits of famous residents and visitors. Green was awarded a Michigan Heritage Award for her work as a quilter and teacher in 1995.

Owner's name for the quilt:

Idlewild

Quilt top made by:

Green, Deonna

Quilted by:

Green, Deonna

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Remus

Where the quilt was made, county:

Mecosta

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2000

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Remus

Quiltmaker's county:

Mecosta

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Todd

Quiltmaker's birth date:

6/23/1948

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Quiltmaker's educational background:

High School Diploma

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Prodestant Church of Christ

Quiltmaker's occupation:

housewife

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Todd, Marshall

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

African American

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Todd, Ione Sawyer

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

African American

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

African American German

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Maintenance Gas Company

Number of children:

4

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

3

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Todd Family

What are the main activities of the group?

Deonna Todd Green, assisted by her mother and other relatives, continues to devote hours to researching her family genealogy, collecting family photographs and documents, and gathering family stories. Quests for information have taken them to local, state

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

77"

How long is the quilt?

76"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

The center blocks reads, "Idlewild, Black Eden, The Oldest black resort in the U.S." The entire quilt is inscribed.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

25

Size of quilt blocks:

14 1/2" x 14 1/2"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

1"

Describe the borders:

1" black

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

Thread type used for the quilting:

Clear thread

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

7

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Photos of quilter; Interview with quilter; Clippings or photocopies

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

11/2000, Deonna Green

Details

• 
• 
• 
• 

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed the pattern

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

The quilt commemorates Idlewild, Michigan. The quilt consists of 25 white blocks, each embroidered with text telling the story of Idlewild. Six squares depict historical buildings. The center blocks reads, "Idlewild, Black Eden, The Oldest black resort in the U.S." Six squares depict embroidered faces of famous residents and visiors to Idlewild. Other blocks feature embroidered names of perfomers who performed at Idlewild. The upper left hand corner has an outline of the state of Michigan that shows Idlewild's location. Audrey Bullet, former mayor of Idlewild, paricipant of FMF, and former entertainer at the Paradise Club, helped select the stories that were told in each block.

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum