QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6720

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0160

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

2014:55.7

Object label:

A narrative pictorial quilt incorporating historical, personal, and familial elements by facilitating a discussion about family, genealogy, and the Great Migration.

Essay:

"Lucy's Leaf"
79.5" x 77.5"
"Lucy's Leaf" was begun by Lucy Neal Heart (my maternal grandmother) in 1925. She, her husband and children decided to join their three eldest newly married sons, who were determined to MIGRATE NORTH looking for jobs. Grandmother Lucy picked-up an Oak Leaf to remember her treasured tree in their front yard. The family's Ancestral Migration from Clarksdale, Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri in 1923 was a heartbreaking experience for Grandmother Lucy. The leaf was used to make a cardboard pattern, which would be used to start making her memory quilt in 1924. My mother (Valeska) found her mother's bag of 24 unpieced hand-appliqued squares in 1980. I discovered their special bag of appliqued squares after my mother's death in 1995.
My sequential contribution began in 2003. The design extension lists the names and ages of my family members who dreamed of a better life by migrating NORTH. The pink Tulle overlay symbolizes the family's migration dreams as viewed through their "ROSE COLORED GLASSES!!"

Artist Statement about work:
"Lucy's Leaf" was begun by my Maternal Grandmother (Lucy Neal Hart) in 1925 after she and her Husband Benjamin Hart, Sr. and their youngest children decided to join their three (3) eldest newly married sons, who were determined to follow their dreams of moving North looking for good jobs. My family's Ancestral Migration from Clarksdale, Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri in 1923 was a heartbreaking experience for my Grandmother. As she turned to look at their home for the last time, she stopped to pick a Large Oak Leaf from the beautiful tree in their front yard. She used that treasured LEAF to draw a Cardboard Pattern, which would be used to begin making the Appliqued Green Leaf Segment on this quilt (1924), which she never finished. My Mother found the bag of unfinished pieces in 1980 and continued hand applique of leaves. I rediscovered that bag of finished appliqued squares with fabric in 1995 after the death of my Mother. My sequential contribution began in 2003. My designed extension depicts the family's migration North from Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri. The Pink Tulle extension overlay symbolizes a family's migration dreams as viewed through their "ROSE COLORED DREAM GLASSES."

Quilt's title:

Lucy's Leaf

Subject of the quilt:

Family, Genealogy, Great Migration

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

2/26/2015

Quilt top made by:

Beck, Carol

Quilted by:

Beck, Carol

Where the quilt was made, city:

Missouri and Durham

Where the quilt was made, state:

North Carolina (NC)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

Timespan

When was the quilt started?

c1925

When was the quilt finished?

c2003

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

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

Women of Color Quilters Network

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

77 3/4"

How long is the quilt?

78 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Pink; Red; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Date; Multiple Names; Message; Place

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"Lucy's Leaf" Lucy Neal Hart, Grandmother 1877-1953 Valeska Hart Williams, Mother, 1915- 1995 Carol Beck, Quilt Artist, 1938- Present (c) Carol Beck, 2004 Durham, North Carolina

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

2004

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

Paper

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe where the inscription was found:

Bottom left

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Light brown and black rope-like border- 1/4"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Batiks

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Pink tulle

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Machine Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand-whipped/blanket stitch, appliqued oak leaves, original stylized cameo, fused photos and fabric, flower images, pink sheer tulle overlay

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine embroidery; Photography/photo transfer

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Describe the binding:

Front to back, Piped Miter Knife Edge Binding

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

half inch - one inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

1"

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

"Reflections of Our Heritage" (2003), artist indicated that it was a local exhibition

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Clippings or photocopies, templates, artist statement

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt collector

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)

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi

Details

• 

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved