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Myla Perkins

Quiltmaker

  Detroit, Michigan, United States    

Michigan African American Quilt Project

Myla Perkins (and The Quilting Six; left to right top, Myla Perkins, Alva Gamble, Charlsetta Buie, Clara Clark; bottom, Gwendolyn Spears, Elizabeth Jaggers) is featured in the exhibit: Quilting Sisters: African-American Quiltmaking in Michigan.
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The members of The Quilting Six are connected in a number of ways, including sorority membership and friendships formed in college. There are also two sets of natural sisters within the group: Myla Perkins and Clara Clark, as well as Charlesetta Buie and Elizabeth Janners. The remaining members, Alva Gamble and Gwen Spears, agree with the others that, after years of quilting, talking, and encouraging one another, the ties that bind them are stronger than ever.

Jaggers says that when family and friends doubted that "six beautiful, intelligent black women were getting together to quilt," The Quilting Six held their won exhibit and displayed more than 70 quilts. Visitors were so impressed, many asked to join the group. The members have decided to expand, choosing rather to encourage others to begin their own groups.

Was the maker a woman, man or a group?

Female

When was the quiltmaker born?

02/25/1939

If the quiltmaker was married, what was the wedding date.

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Educational background:

BS Elementary Ed Wayne State University

Religious affiliation:

Methodist

Occupation (if retired, former occupation):

Educator

Where was the quiltmaker born?

Pueblo, Colorado (CO), United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Levy

Father's Name:

Addison C. Levy

Father's ethnic/tribal background:

Factory worker

Mother's Name:

Naomi Hill Levy

Mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Nurse

Spouse's/Spouses' name(s):

Edgar Perkins

Spouse's/Spouses' occupation:

Executive

Number of children:

2

Number of female children:

2

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Friend

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Other reasons the quiltmaker makes/made quilts.

Learned from a neighbor and by reading scores of books. First project was a cathedral window quilt.

Name of quilting group(s):

The Quilting Six. Informally with a group of six ladies in each other's homes.

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