QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5291

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Cuesta Benberry Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0108

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2008:119.48

Object label:

Marcus Garvey
Hazel Blackman
New York, New York
2003
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.48

Essay:

This is a pre-printed panel of events in the life of Marcus Garvey with a 5" border around it. It shows him in his uniform, in his college graduation robes, and in a hat and suit. It also depicts steam ships used to transport people back to Africa.

It should be noted that the images in printing this fabric were used without permission and Marcus Garvey's family was not compensated for using the images of their ancestor. This makes the fabric somewhat rare and unusual. Hazel Blackman stitched the borders and binding onto the pre-printed panel. Georgianne Englinski brought the center panel, depicting an African American nationalist who wanted to repatriate descendants of former slave stock back to Africa. He tried to raise money to buy ships for this purpose. The fabric was printed as a celebration of the centennial of Marcus Garvey's life. This fabric was printed in Ghana. Printed on the fabric is: "Printed by the Soliba Simafric Dakar, Senegal." Althought this fabric was printed illegally, it is rare and commemorates a part of history. It would be difficult to replicate this quilt, however simply it is made.

Quilt's title:

Marcus Garvey

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Blackman, Hazel

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

New York

Where the quilt was made, state:

New York (NY)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2003

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

New York

Quiltmaker's state:

New York (NY)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

44"

How long is the quilt?

30 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Gold; Green; Red; White

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

An inner border, pre-printed says 1887-1987 Cetennial of Marcus Garvey. UNIA is also repeated around the entire panel.

Method used to make the inscription:

Printed in the fabric

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

5"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Premium type

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Print

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

half inch - one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Width between quilting lines:

1 1/2"

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline; Single parallel lines

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

This is a pre-printed panel of events in the life of Marcus Garvey with a 5" border around it. It shows him in his uniform, in his college graduation robes, and in a hat and suit. It also depicts steam ships used to transport people back to Africa. It should be noted that the images in printing this fabric were used without permission and Marcus Garvey's family was not compensated for using the images of their ancestor. This makes the fabric somewhat rare and unusual. Hazel Blackman stitched the borders and binding onto the pre-printed panel. Georgianne Englinski brought the center panel, depicting an African American nationalist who wanted to repatriate descendants of former slave stock back to Africa. He tried to raise money to buy ships for this purpose. The fabric was printed as a celebration of the centennial of Marcus Garvey's life. This fabric was printed in Ghana. Printed on the fabric is: "Printed by the Soliba Simafric Dakar, Senegal." Althought this fabric was printed illegally, it is rare and commemorates a part of history. It would be difficult to replicate this quilt, however simply it is made.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Source of the information on this quilt:

MSU Museum employee

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)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees