QUILT INDEX RECORD

2-33-34

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Signature Quilt Pilot Project

Who documented this quilt?

Signature Quilt Project Public Submission

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Jamestown First Baptist Church Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Wagon Wheel or Spider Web style

How wide is the quilt?

76 inches

How long is the quilt?

94 1/2 inches

What color is the quilt?

Black; Yellow

Type of inscription:

Date; Multiple Names; Other

Describe the type of inscription:

Various Sunday School classes and church groups and members serving in the military are noted on the center hub of the spokes.

What is inscribed on the quilt?

JAMESTOWN, TENNESSEE, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH QUILT [Some names appear on the quilt more than once. Items in brackets were added and are not on the quilt.] AIGNER, IDA [?] ALBERTSON, DYLLIS AL[L]RED, BETTY ALLRED, ELIZABETH ALLRED, GRACE ALLRED, PEARLINE BEATY, MARGIE [1887-1980] BEATY, NANCY BEATY, MARTHA BEATY, PORTER BEATY, STELLA BERTRAM, BILL BERTRAM, ESTA LEE BERTRAM, JOHN BERTRAM, JUDD BERTRAM, W. L. BERTRUM, DELLA BERTRUM, PAULINE BLEVINS, JOAN BLEVINS, JOANN BRADLEY, BEATRICE BRADLEY, MYRTIE BROOKS, ELLA DEAN BROOKS, JIMMY BROWN, MARY BRYANT, OLMA *BURDEN, DENTON CARROLL, LOUISA COPELAND, SYLVIA COPLEY, BOBBY COPLEY, EDNA COPLEY, ERMINE COPLEY, JUAN *COPLEY, LONNIE *COPLEY, NOBLE CRAVENS, A. C. CRAVENS, NOVA CUSTARD, JOYCE DALTON, DELTA *DALTON, EUGENE DALTON, JAMES DALTON, JOYCE DALTON, LEONARD DALTON, MARGARET DAVIS, SYTHA DEAKINS, JOE EVANS, FRED EVANS, DOROTHY EVANS [EVENS ?], STELLA FOWLER, ELSIE FOWLER, W. E. GARRETT, L. B. *GOODING, CLETUS GOODING, ABBIE HALL, ESTELLE HARRIS, CHLOE HARRIS, OPHIE HOLT, LOUISE HOLT, MARY HOLT, RAY *HULL, HERBERT *HULL, ODIS KINCHLOE, CATHRINE KING, CAROLYN KING, EUGENE KING, PAUL KINGSTON, FRONIA LAWSON, MAGGIE LEE, HATTIE LESTER, ANNA L. LESTER, CAROLYN SUE LESTER, IRIS LESTER, JR. [Junior] LESTER, LEO LESTER, LEO, JR. LESTER, MARGARET LESTER, MARY LOU [JAN?] LESTER, PEGGY LESTER, SALLY LIGON, ELIZABETH LIGON, HARRIET LIGON, JOE LIGON, MARJORIE LIGON, PEYTON LIGON, P. F. LIGON, MRS. P.F. LINDER [?], VILONA LOOPER, CAPITOLA [Teacher Junior Girls] LOOPER, JOANNA LOOPER, LULA MALONE, RUBY MALONE, RUTH MARTA, ELIZABETH [?] MAT[T]HEWS, NINNIE MOONEYHAM, BILLY SUE MOONEYHAM, MATTIE MORTON, ELIZABETH MORTON, W. D. NICHOLS, PASTOR A. D NICHOLS, MRS. A. D. NICHOLS, DELMER NICHOLS, MAMIE *OWENS, CHARLES OWENS, CHRISTINE *OWENS, KENNETH PEAVYHOUSE, BARBARA PEAVYHOUSE, C. A. PEAVY [PEAVYHOUSE], MAUDEAN PEAVY [PEAVYHOUSE], ODETTA PEAVYHOUSE, ROXY PHILLIPS, JEAN PHILLIPS, JENNIE PRICE, BILLIE PRICE, OLLIE RAINS, NEWELL *REAGAN, CARL REAGAN, CHARLENE REAGAN, CLAUDE REAGAN, DICKIE [RICHARD] REAGAN, HAZEL REAGAN, MRS. J. B. [EFFIE] REAGAN, JOE REAGAN, MAE REAGAN, MYRTLE *REAGAN, PAUL +REAGAN, RHODA [1883 - 1978] REAGAN, RUTH REAGAN, WILMA REED, ALMA REED, ARZA REED, MARTHA RICH, DOROTHY DEAN RICH, EDNA FAY RIGNEY, DELIA ANN RIGNEY, IDA SARGENT, SARAH SEWELL, SYLVIA SEWELL, SYTHA SEWELL, W. H. SEWELL, WILLIAM SEWELL, WILMA SIMPSON, CLARICE SIMPSON, COOKIE SIMPSON, FRANCIS SIMPSON, VIRGIL SMITH, ADDIE SMITH, BUENA SMITH, MARY C. SMITH, RUBY SMITH, SOPHIE STEPHENS, BILL STEPHENS, BOYD STEPHENS, ELLEN STEPHENS, GOLDIE STEPHENS, JEAN STEPHENS, J. C. STEPHENS, JEWELL STEPHENS, J. M. STEPHENS, JUNE STEPHENS, LILLIE, STEPHENS, MARY ELLEN STEPHENS, ODELL STEPHENS, P. B. STILTS, MEDE *STINSON, DECOY *STINSON, HAROLD STOCKTON, ELIZABETH STOCKTON, KATHRYN STORIE, MARIE TERRY, FRED TERRY, NEVA [MRS. F. ?] THREAT, MARTHA TINNER, MARTHA TURNER, ELVA *TURNER, ESTES *TURNER, ETHRIDGE TURNER, RAY TURNER, SUE WALDEN, EDITH WILLIAMS, BETTY JEAN WILLIAMS, FRANCES WILLIAMS, GLADYS WILLIAMS, MARGARET WILLIAMS, MILDRED WILLIAMS, SAMMIE WIRT, DARIS WIRT, MRS. JACK WIRT, VELMA WRIGHT, BARBARA, WRIGHT, BERTIE WRIGHT, CHARLINE WRIGHT, EDNA *WRIGHT, ELMO WRIGHT, ERNEST WRIGHT, FREDA WRIGHT, MRS. WRIGHT, W. F. * In Service + Charter Member 20 INSCRIPTIONS IN CENTER HUBS: 1. W M U 2. T E L JEAN STEPHENS TEACHER 3. MEN'S CLASS 4. WILLING WORKERS WILMA REAGAN TEACHER 5. PRIMARY CLASS MRS. P.F. LIGON TEACHER 6. MEN'S CLASS 7. T.E.L. CLASS 1939 8. JUNIOR BOYS MRS. WRIGHT 1939 9. INT. GIRLS MRS. F. TERRY 10. EXT. DEPT. 11. MRS. JACK WIRT 12. T E L CLASS 1939 13. BEGINNERS MRS. GORDON REAGAN TEACHER 14. CAROLYN SUE LESTER 15. Y.W.A. 16. MRS. J. B. REAGAM 17. IN SERVICE OF U.S.A. 18. GLEANERS 19. KATHRYN STOCKTON 20. JUNIOR GIRLS CAPITOLA LOOPER TEACHER

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

Several blocks note 1939

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on block

Time period:

1930-1949

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

ca. 1937- 1939

Further information concerning dates:

The quilt was made to raise funds to purchase Sunday School chairs for the new church building, which was completed in November, 1937.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Unknown

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain; Unknown

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Quilt top made by:

Unknown, Quiltmakers

Where the quilt was made, city:

Jamestown

Where the quilt was made, county:

Fentress

Where the quilt was made, state:

Tennessee

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

Ten cents was paid for each name embroidered on the quilt, raising a total of $22.10. When the quilt was completed, it was purchased by Mrs. Effie Reagan for $10.00, netting a grand total of $32.10 which allowed the church to purchase chairs for the Sunday School rooms. Mrs. Reagan's granddaughter now owns the quilt.

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative; Fundraising

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

The yellow fabric appears to be of a polished cotton. The block background fabric is more loosely woven, flat black. The eight spokes in each block are machine-stitched to the black block. Quilting is very little, chiefly around the center hubs, through each spoke, along yellow sashing and in the yellow fabric of the nine-patch corner blocks. Embroidery of each name is in upper and lower case print rather than in cursive style.

Quilt owner's name:

Diana Pinckley

Quilt owner's city:

Washington, DC

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Local women of the First Baptist Church made the quilt.

Description of quilt:

Twenty black-backed blocks are framed by triple strips of pale yellow and black sashing with small, nine-patch blocks of the same colors at each corner of the block. The pattern consists of eight spokes radiating from a center hub, with a name embroidered on each spoke and a name, date, church group and/or class embroidered on the hub, allowing the quilt to be hung and read from any side. In the corner of each block are embroidered delicate flowers in various colors. In many blocks, additional names are sewn into the corners or sides, ranging from one to eight additional names, to accommodate the number of class or group attendees.

Essay:

"A Gift that Keeps on Giving" Almost seventy years ago, a small group of women got together and made a quilt. Little did they know that the work they did would live on and benefit many people for many years. It all began in May of 1930 when the Jamestown (TN) First Baptist Church was organized. It was during the Depression - when you had to have your book of rationing stamps to buy sugar, coffee, gas and other items. Times were hard, and most of the people in Fentress County raised their own food. The church started out with twenty-two charter members, meeting at the court house. After a few months, they moved to the Masonic Hall where they had worship services and Sunday School for the next seven years. Finally, in November of 1937, they moved into the new building. They borrowed chairs from the Masons for the Sunday School rooms. Then some of the ladies decided to take action, selling plate lunches on court day and other projects, including making a quilt. Everyone who wanted their name embroidered on the quilt paid the church ten cents each. Each Sunday School class had their own block, with the teacher's name in the center. They made one special block with the names of the men who were serving in the military. Can you just imagine that little group of women sitting around working on the quilt and discussing the events going on at the church and in Jamestown? One can just see them and their children, playing, running in and out while they worked. When the quilt was finished there were 221 names embroidered, for a sum of $22.10, and Mrs. Effie Reagan bought it for the large total of $10.00. (Remember, this was the 1930's.) It was beautiful, and the ladies must have been very proud of the total of $32.10. They had enough to buy the chairs for the Sunday School rooms. But the story doesn't end in the 1930's. All of those women are gone, and the quilt is now owned by Mrs. Effie Reagan's granddaughter, Diana Pinckley. In June of last year, the "Sew Sweet Quilters" of Jamestown, who meet at the First Baptist Church, had their first annual quilt show at the church. Diana Pinckley, who now lives in New Orleans, LA, allowed them to display the quilt in the sanctuary. An estimated 300 people came to view all the quilts, including a special lady who lives in Arizona. A few days after the show, God gave her the idea to have Butch Hodgkins make a picture of the quilt, then make prints to sell, the proceeds going to the Family Life Center of the church which is almost completed. She is not a member of First Baptist, though she does have special ties with many of the members there. Those women who worked so hard to benefit the church would never have imagined that their work would reach out and, over seventy years later, the church would still benefit from the quilt. I think we can all agree that when we sow seeds in love, we never know just how great the harvest will be. If you would like to purchase a print of this beautiful and unique quilt, you may call First Baptist Church in Jamestown. [Article and photos appeared in The FENTRESS COURIER, January 28, 2009, page A-10]

Who photographed this quilt?

Claudine Pinckley

Access and copyright information:

Open/Public Domain

Details