QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-393

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

90.0023

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

7422.1

Object label:

I Am
Lula Williams
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
1987
Collection of the Michigan State University Museum, acc. #7422.1

Essay:

Williams, who has been a professional quilter for many years, considers construction and coloring the key ingredients in a "good" quilt. Both are clearly evident in her original, award-winning I Am quilt. Illustrated are the seven "I am's" which Jesus utters in the Bible, plus many of the "I am's" which African-American preachers often use at the end of their sermons.

Since completing her first Pinwheel quilt almost twenty-five years ago, Lula Williams has made more than 100 quilts. She has won numerous awards, including a Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program grant in 1992 to teach apprentices Kaye F. Robinson of Detroit and April Johnson of Hamtramck and the Michigan Heritage Award in 1997. Her original I Am quilt is a strong testament to the role of religion in her life. Illustrated in the quilt are the seven "I Am's" that Jesus utters in the Bible, as well as many of the "I Am's" that African American preachers often use at the end of their sermons.

By Marsha MacDowell

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

I Am

How wide is the quilt?

60"

How long is the quilt?

76"

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

20

Sashing width:

3 1/4"

Describe the borders:

3 1/2"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton or polyester blend

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

What is inscribed on the quilt?

LMW

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1987

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

When was the quilt finished?

1987

Time period:

1976-1999

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Where the quilt was made, city:

Detroit

Where the quilt was made, county:

Wayne

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

African-American Quiltmaking Traditions in Michigan, exhibit, February 3-September 29, 1991, MSU Museum, East Lansing, MI; The Museum of African American History, November 1, 1991-January 1, 1992 (Detroit, MI); Flint Institute of Arts, February 23-April 5, 1992; Ella Sharp Museum, January 14-March 7, 1993 (Jackson, MI). Quilting Sisters: African-American Quilting in Michigan exhibit: Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI, January 13-February 13, 2000; Port Huron Museum, Port Huron, MI, September 8-October 21, 2001; Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo, MI, June 22-September 28, 2002; Castellani Art Museum at the Falls, Niagra Falls, NY, March 13-April 24, 2005.

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Audiotape Interview with quilter; Photos of quilter; Patterns; Templates

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

African American Quiltmaking in Michigan (1997) book, figure 124, page 81.

Biography of the quiltmaker?

Lula Williams was featured at the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C. and the Michigan State University Museum's annual Festival of Michigan Folklife. She was awarded a Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award in 1992 to teach apprentices Kaye F. Robinson of Detroit and April Johnson of Hamtramack; and in 1997 was given the Michigan Heritage Award given annually to outstanding tradition bearers who continue with excellence and authenticity their family and community life.

Quilt top made by:

Williams, Lula M.

Quilted by:

Williams, Lula M.

Quiltmaker's city:

Detroit

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's county:

Wayne

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

12/12/1925

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Quiltmaker's educational background:

High school, college, 1 year of cosmetology

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Quilting Instructor for basics

Quiltmaker's father's name:

_________, Jesse

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

_________, Laura

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

12/24/1951

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Williams, John M.

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

city, DSSR

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Relative

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

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

Evans Piecemakers

Where does/did the group meet?

Detroit, MI

What are the main activities of the group?

Socialize, quilt and share

Number of children:

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

I Am is a strong testament to the role of religion in her life. Illustrated in the quilt are the seven "I Am's" that Jesus uttered in the Bible, as well as many of the "I Am's" that African American preachers often use at the end of their sermons. Row 1: Quilt Title; Alpha & Omega Row 2: The Good Sheperd, Mary's Baby, The Word, Rose of Sharon Row 3: Horse Pawing In the Valley, Light of the World, King of Kings, Bright and Morning Star. Row 4: Bridge Over Trouble Water, Lilly of the Valley, Wheel in the Middle of the Wheel, Lamb of God Row 5: Prince of Peace, The Trias, Amen

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

1-3-1991, Lula Williams, seller and quilt maker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library, or Institution

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum

Who photographed this quilt?

Mark Eifert

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

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

Purchased the quilt

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed the pattern