QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-6733
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:
15.0075
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2014:55.73
Essay:
Artist statement about work:
The Emancipation Oak is on the campus of Hampton University, Hampton, Va. It is the site of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to the enslaved African people on that land. I use it here as the place where I have written the names of my own family members who either ran away or fought in the Civil War for the Union Army. Henry Clay Still of Pomeroy Ohio was my great grandfather who fought in the Civil War from 1861-1865. He fought along with his brothers.
As this tree represents the roots of the African American people, those roots run deep into the soil of the history of the United States. A part of that history is Marian Anderson who sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial because she was unable to sing in Constitution Hall. On the other side of the tree is our first African American President, Barack Obama. These symbols of our nation and our freedoms.
Quilt's title:
From These Roots... Emancipation Oak
Subject of the quilt:
Emancipation, Progress, President Barack Obama
Who helped you fill out the form?
Aleia Brown
When was the form filled out?
4/7/2015
Quilt top made by:
Shellcroft, Theresa Polley
Quilted by:
Shellcroft, Theresa Polley
Where the quilt was made, city:
Victorville
Where the quilt was made, state:
California (CA)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt finished?
2009
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?
30"
How long is the quilt?
34"
Shape of edge:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Blue; Brown; Gray; Green; White
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Type of inscription:
Date; Message; Place; Single Inscription
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Theresa Polly Shellcroft 12/30/09 30x34 hand quilted wall hanging honoring Presidents Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln, Marian Anderson and runaways from enslavement in the USA. Materials: Hand painted on muslin, photo transfer, beading, applique. Batik border fabric from Ghana, West Africa. Machine pieced, hand quilted. The Story: The Emancipation Oak Tree stands on the campus of Hampton University in Virginia. It is the site of the first southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. It was the site of the education of newly freed persons from enslavement. Marian Anderson was not allowed to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington DC by the DAR. She was given permission to hold her concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the feet of the author and leader of the emancipation, President Abraham Lincoln. In this work, the branches of the tree carry some of the names and events documented in William Still, African American abolitionist's book, "The Underground Railroad." Also inscribed on the tree are the names of his mother, Charity Still, who ran away and her son Peter, who had to be left behind, later sold to a slave master in Kentucky. Included among these names is the name of my Great Grandfather, Henry Clay Still, who served in the Union army from 1861- 1865 and is not included in the listing of African American soldiers on the Civil War Memorial because he did not serve with the "colored troops." This quilted artwork honors the courage, bravery, determination for freedom, education, hope of our forefathers with the Emancipation Proclamation... it is from these roots that we continue to move forward as a people, as a union and a nation. Like this oak, may we continue to grow strong! Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Artist [Address] Victorville, CA [Zip]
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
30-Dec-09
Method used to make the inscription:
Attached label; Ink
Location of inscription:
on back
Describe where the inscription was found:
Near artist statement
Describe the quilt's layout:
Pictorial
Number of borders:
3
Describe the borders:
Dark blue border- 1 1/2", blue/green border- 1/2", orange patterned border- 1 1/2".
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:
Acrylic fabric paint, sequins, gold ink
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc); Ink drawing; Painting; Photography/photo transfer
Embellishments used:
Cotton thread
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Front turned to back
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)?
1/2"
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How thick is the quilt?
Thin
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker
Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:
Ashland KY Art Gallery 2010
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
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved
Cite this Quilt
Shellcroft, Theresa Polle. From These Roots... Emancipation Oak. 2009. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6733. Accessed: 04/26/24