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Mama's Apron

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6735

Who documented this quilt?

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

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0088

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

2014:55.88

Essay:

This apron was made in memory of my mother, Julia Manuel Proctor.

Mama wore an apron during some hard times and difficult days. Although she was college educated, my mother was hampered by segregation and discrimination. She continued to be a community activist in local clubs such as the League of Women Voters,YWCA Board, Federated Club, Links, Booklovers Club, Needlework Guild, and Women of Color Quilters Network. Her main focus was her work in the AME church where she was a stewardess, Sunday school teacher, Missionary Society member and a member of the choir. This apron symbolizes her sadness: orphaned at age 14, the pains of discrimination, low paying jobs as a domestic, and the rejection of in-laws. Through it all she was a good wife and stay-at-home parent who had forsaken her dreams of a profession. Nonetheless, my mother excelled in needlework crafts, teaching me embroidery, crochet, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, and quilting.

This apron is dedicated to the joy, love and devotion my mother gave to me and so many others. The top band of this apron is made from pieces of a quilt made by my great-grandmother, Julia Smith, from Kirkville, Missouri. The buottons come from the United States, Virgin Island and Africa, with some being over 100 years old.

Quilt's title:

Mama's Apron

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

2/28/2017

Quilt top made by:

Wilbekin, Cleota

Quilted by:

Wilbekin, Cleota

Where the quilt was made, city:

Cincinnati

Where the quilt was made, state:

Ohio (OH)

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

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?

24"

How long is the quilt?

17"

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Pink; Purple; Red; White

Type of inscription:

Single Inscription

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Hand made by Cleota P. Wilbekin

Method used to make the inscription:

Typewriter

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe where the inscription was found:

Back bottom left of the quilt

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Quilting African American Women's History: Our Challenges, Creativity, and Champions

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

Read My Mother Never Let Go of Her Faith, Her Quilts, or Her Style by Emil Wilbekin in Vogue magazine, May 12, 2023, https://www.vogue.com/article/my-mother-never-let-go-of-her-faith-her-quilts-or-her-style.

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

Cite this Quilt

Wilbekin, Cleot. Mama's Apron. 2009. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6735. Accessed: 03/29/24