Alabama Quilts: Wilderness through World War II, 1682-1950 by Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff and Carole Ann King

Abstract

Reviewed by: Alabama Quilts: Wilderness through World War II, 1682-1950 by Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff and Carole Ann King Beth Hunter Alabama Quilts: Wilderness through World War II, 1682-1950. By Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff and Carole Ann King. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2020. 256 pp. $60.00. ISBN 978-1-4968-3139-2. Alabama Quilts: Wilderness through World War II, 1682-1950 is a celebration of Alabama life. Not limited to folk art, or even textile art, this book is a culmination of Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff's life. Also known to many as "Sunshine," her deep love for southern quilts is firmly established on each page. One example includes the multiple times Huff added a personal note with her initials, providing an intimate connection with the reader. It is quickly apparent that Huff not only knew her quilts, she knew the people of Alabama. Those acquainted with her were dealt a terrible blow when she died in 2019. Thankfully, her friends (namely Carole Ann King) and family offered contributions in order for this book, Huff's life work, to be completed. The numerous sections in which experts (quilters, collectors, and historians) added their own narratives serve to enrich Huff's original text. In short, this work is the most comprehensive anthology of Alabama quilts to date. Much of this work could be considered an Alabama history book. Each quilt is described by its components and design as well as the location (sometimes locations) of creation. There are several well-traveled quilts listed, which miraculously Huff was able to trace through time and place. Scattered throughout are connections to prominent and pioneering Alabama families, landmarks, and events. Huff chronicles each section with impressive state data and statistics. In chapter three, for instance, readers are shown antebellum quilts as well as information from the 1850 slave census to help place the quilts in historical context. Aside from the techniques used to create these masterfully treasured works of art, the lengths many Alabamians experienced in obtaining the necessary materials is nothing short of astounding. Clothing scraps provided the foundations and decorations. Alabama-grown cotton and wool from local sheep comprised battings. Flour sack, feed sack, and other utility fabrics showcase both the resourcefulness [End Page 339] of quilters and provide an interesting history as the stamped commercial materials can be traced back to Alabama factories and stores. Several descriptions explain the process of dying fabric with walnut shells or berries to obtain a desired color. As the Civil War continued to deprive quilters of cloth, dyes, and other necessary materials, women returned to the early American craft of homespun with homemade home looms. In viewing these quilts, one better appreciates each creation, as well as the creator's perseverance to provide decorative warmth for their families. Huff features techniques, such as various appliqué methods, in an effort to denote the skill levels of numerous quilters. Wherever possible, a maker's age is also included, showcasing a young women's first quilt, one specially pieced for her trousseau, or possibly a gift to her child. Her research extended far beyond pattern analysis and fabric dating. Huff acted as investigator, especially with quilts in which there may be disagreement, as in the case of an unknown date, occasion, or quilter. In fact, several quilt images include genealogical notes. Others list events, newspaper articles, and military records in an effort to date the quilt. To further prove the idea that politics permeate every area of society, featured quilt patterns include the popular and intricate "Whig's Defeat," so named as the mid-nineteenth century owner was likely a supporter of President Andrew Jackson, who defeated the Whig Party's Henry Clay in the presidential election of 1832. Another quilt's elements consist of fabric stamped with pro-Union messages that produce a visual embodiment of northern Alabama's Unionist contingent that worked against secession and the Confederacy during the Civil War. The heartbreaking narrative of Gee's Bend's past, its highly creative women, and its internationally renowned quilts are well highlighted. Additionally, a rare quilt crafted from robes and insignias of the Ku Klux Klan is also displayed with historical details...