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African American quilt, linsey-woolsy, mid 19th century

African American quilt,
linsey-woolsy, mid 19th century.
(Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia)

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Despite the hardships of slavery, African Americans maintained a rich tradition of art and handicrafts. When making quilts, they followed patterns reflecting a variety of African, European, and American influences.

This quilt, passed down through several generations of a black family, features a European, four-patch checkerboard design dating from the Colonial era.
Copyright 2003
A New Birth of Freedom: Reconstruction During the Civil War The Meaning of Freedom: Black and White Responses to Slavery From Free Labor to Slave Labor Rights and Power: The Politics of Reconstruction Introduction The Ending of Reconstruction Epilogue Additional Resources Credits for this Exhibit