QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6730

Who documented this quilt?

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

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0079

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

2014:55.48

Essay:

This quilt honors Billie Holiday and the song Strange Fruit, which she sang at the end of each or her performances. Addressing the horrors of lynching of African Americans, Strange Fruit is the consummate protest song.
-- by Viola Burley Leak

Quilt's title:

Strange Fruit

Subject of the quilt:

Lynching, Racial violence

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

4/7/2015

Quilt top made by:

Leak, Viola Burley

Quilted by:

Leak, Viola Burley

Where the quilt was made, state:

Washington D.C.

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

When was the quilt finished?

2007

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?

35"

How long is the quilt?

38"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue; Gray; Green; Red; Turquoise; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Message; Single Inscription

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Title: Strange Fruit Viola Burley Leak

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

Written

Describe where the inscription was found:

On sleeve

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Raw edge applique

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

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)

How was this quilt acquired?

Received as a gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved