QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-5291
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Cuesta Benberry Collection
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
08.0108
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2008:119.48
Object label:
Marcus Garvey
Hazel Blackman
New York, New York
2003
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.48
Essay:
This is a pre-printed panel of events in the life of Marcus Garvey with a 5" border around it. It shows him in his uniform, in his college graduation robes, and in a hat and suit. It also depicts steam ships used to transport people back to Africa.
It should be noted that the images in printing this fabric were used without permission and Marcus Garvey's family was not compensated for using the images of their ancestor. This makes the fabric somewhat rare and unusual. Hazel Blackman stitched the borders and binding onto the pre-printed panel. Georgianne Englinski brought the center panel, depicting an African American nationalist who wanted to repatriate descendants of former slave stock back to Africa. He tried to raise money to buy ships for this purpose. The fabric was printed as a celebration of the centennial of Marcus Garvey's life. This fabric was printed in Ghana. Printed on the fabric is: "Printed by the Soliba Simafric Dakar, Senegal." Althought this fabric was printed illegally, it is rare and commemorates a part of history. It would be difficult to replicate this quilt, however simply it is made.
Quilt's title:
Marcus Garvey
When was the form filled out?
4/22/08
Quilt top made by:
Blackman, Hazel
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Received as a gift
Where the quilt was made, city:
New York
Where the quilt was made, state:
New York (NY)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt finished?
2003
Why was the quilt made?
Gift or presentation
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
Quiltmaker's city:
New York
Quiltmaker's state:
New York (NY)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
44"
How long is the quilt?
30 1/2"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Blue; Gold; Green; Red; White
Quilt's condition:
Very good/almost new
Type of inscription:
Message
What is inscribed on the quilt?
An inner border, pre-printed says 1887-1987 Cetennial of Marcus Garvey. UNIA is also repeated around the entire panel.
Method used to make the inscription:
Printed in the fabric
Describe the quilt's layout:
Medallion or framed center
Number of borders:
1
Describe the borders:
5"
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Premium type
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
Green
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout; Print
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Straight grain
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
half inch - one inch
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Polyester
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Width between quilting lines:
1 1/2"
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline; Single parallel lines
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
This is a pre-printed panel of events in the life of Marcus Garvey with a 5" border around it. It shows him in his uniform, in his college graduation robes, and in a hat and suit. It also depicts steam ships used to transport people back to Africa. It should be noted that the images in printing this fabric were used without permission and Marcus Garvey's family was not compensated for using the images of their ancestor. This makes the fabric somewhat rare and unusual. Hazel Blackman stitched the borders and binding onto the pre-printed panel. Georgianne Englinski brought the center panel, depicting an African American nationalist who wanted to repatriate descendants of former slave stock back to Africa. He tried to raise money to buy ships for this purpose. The fabric was printed as a celebration of the centennial of Marcus Garvey's life. This fabric was printed in Ghana. Printed on the fabric is: "Printed by the Soliba Simafric Dakar, Senegal." Althought this fabric was printed illegally, it is rare and commemorates a part of history. It would be difficult to replicate this quilt, however simply it is made.
Where did the maker get their materials?
Purchased new
Source of the information on this quilt:
MSU Museum employee
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)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Purchase
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Blackman, Haze. Marcus Garvey. 2003. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Cuesta Benberry Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5291. Accessed: 04/23/24
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Collection
African American Quilt Collection
Michigan State University Museum