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