QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6733

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0075

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

2014:55.73

Essay:

Artist statement about work:
The Emancipation Oak is on the campus of Hampton University, Hampton, Va. It is the site of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to the enslaved African people on that land. I use it here as the place where I have written the names of my own family members who either ran away or fought in the Civil War for the Union Army. Henry Clay Still of Pomeroy Ohio was my great grandfather who fought in the Civil War from 1861-1865. He fought along with his brothers.

As this tree represents the roots of the African American people, those roots run deep into the soil of the history of the United States. A part of that history is Marian Anderson who sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial because she was unable to sing in Constitution Hall. On the other side of the tree is our first African American President, Barack Obama. These symbols of our nation and our freedoms.

Quilt's title:

From These Roots... Emancipation Oak

Subject of the quilt:

Emancipation, Progress, President Barack Obama

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

4/7/2015

Quilt top made by:

Shellcroft, Theresa Polley

Quilted by:

Shellcroft, Theresa Polley

Where the quilt was made, city:

Victorville

Where the quilt was made, state:

California (CA)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2009

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Women of Color Quilters Network

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

30"

How long is the quilt?

34"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Brown; Gray; Green; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Date; Message; Place; Single Inscription

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Theresa Polly Shellcroft 12/30/09 30x34 hand quilted wall hanging honoring Presidents Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln, Marian Anderson and runaways from enslavement in the USA. Materials: Hand painted on muslin, photo transfer, beading, applique. Batik border fabric from Ghana, West Africa. Machine pieced, hand quilted. The Story: The Emancipation Oak Tree stands on the campus of Hampton University in Virginia. It is the site of the first southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. It was the site of the education of newly freed persons from enslavement. Marian Anderson was not allowed to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington DC by the DAR. She was given permission to hold her concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the feet of the author and leader of the emancipation, President Abraham Lincoln. In this work, the branches of the tree carry some of the names and events documented in William Still, African American abolitionist's book, "The Underground Railroad." Also inscribed on the tree are the names of his mother, Charity Still, who ran away and her son Peter, who had to be left behind, later sold to a slave master in Kentucky. Included among these names is the name of my Great Grandfather, Henry Clay Still, who served in the Union army from 1861- 1865 and is not included in the listing of African American soldiers on the Civil War Memorial because he did not serve with the "colored troops." This quilted artwork honors the courage, bravery, determination for freedom, education, hope of our forefathers with the Emancipation Proclamation... it is from these roots that we continue to move forward as a people, as a union and a nation. Like this oak, may we continue to grow strong! Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Artist [Address] Victorville, CA [Zip]

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

30-Dec-09

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label; Ink

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe where the inscription was found:

Near artist statement

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

Dark blue border- 1 1/2", blue/green border- 1/2", orange patterned border- 1 1/2".

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Acrylic fabric paint, sequins, gold ink

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc); Ink drawing; Painting; Photography/photo transfer

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back

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

half inch - one inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

1/2"

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Ashland KY Art Gallery 2010

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt collector

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)

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved