Two Port Gibson Quilts

Headed back to the farm this brilliant sunny March after- noon.  Gordon and I gave a program to the Betsy Love Allen Chapter of the Mississippi DAR in Rolling Fork, MS.

It was the program on Historic Quilts in the NSDAR Museum and Historic Mississippi Quilts. Today I heard of one member's grandmother's quilt, a Crazy Quilt, made in silks from her grandmother's trousseau, circa 1922-1923. The wedding dress had been brown, and that was a dominant color in the quilt.

The family name is Rickets, and they lived in Tuckeman, Arkansas at the time the trousseau and quilt were made.  I think that is right. From my scribbled notes, Tuckeman may be the bride's maiden name. 

The quilt owner and I discussed meeting the next time I head in that direction in order for me to photograph the quilt and write down more of its history.  I can't wait to see it.

I always enjoy visiting that town, and each time my To Photograph list grows longer. I'll post later about the Chainsaw Carved Bears of Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

But at the moment, I am squinting at the computer as Gordon drives, so I will post something easy and quilt related.

The first picture is of a delightful quilt that hangs in the Harriette Pearson Library in Port Gibson.  There was no identifying name plate to indicate the quilter who made the quilt, and I did not want to touch it to look at the backing to see if the quilt was attributed somewhere on its backing.  If you know, please let me know so that I can give proper credit.  If this is a published pattern, I would also like to hear from you!

The second picture comes from the home of good friend Emma Crisler, the publisher and owner of the Port Gibson Reveille (weekly newspaper) and fellow DAR member.  She graciously showed Gordon and me around her very historic home, the 1830 Greek Revival home of Judge Coleman, the site of a large political rally held for Henry Clay. (Yes, Miss Emma's house will be a post of its own.) 

This is the quilt on a beautiful old spindle bed in one of the guest rooms.  It was made by Mary Ann Norton, now deceased.  Mary Ann was a Spencer, and the various branches of the Spencer family have lived in the Port Gibson area for three or four generations. The women of the family were quilters, and Mary Ann learned quilting from her mother.