1900-1909

Janet E. Finley Collection of Quilt History Photographs

Silver Gelatin Print (c. 1930-1940) of a c. 1902-1905 photography
Photographer: Unknown
Size: 8" x 10"

Eight Cherokee Indian women are photographed seated around a Triple Irish Chain quilt, most likely done by the group. The photograph's verso has a hand-written note signed by Ada L. Chenorth, Muskogee, Oklahoma. She says, "These ladies used to meet at the church and sew. Sometimes they met at someone's house. I have a quilt exactly like the one in this picture that my mother (Emma Redbird Smith) made." Ada goes on to identify the ladies "left to right front row: Lizie Hogner (sister to Joe Hogner); Mary Coon (Mrs. Oscar Bear); Johanna Groundhog (Mrs. Sampson Fourkiller - brother of Judge); Betsy Redbird (wife of Jesse Redbird); Sara Coon; Peggy Shell (wife of Charley Shell); Peggy Groundhog (wife of George Redbird); and (back row seated left) Charlotte Fishinghawk Hogner and (back row seated right) Nellie Swimmer Hogner. The photograph came to me in an envelope postmarked Tahlequah, Indian Territory, April 14, 1905, and addressed to John Charles, Stilwell, Indian Territory. The return address was from the Department of the Interior, Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Indian Territory. According to Joanna Groundhog's granddaughter, Jo Seller-Hare, the ladies quilted for the Baptist church.

-- With permission of the publisher, excerpted from Janet E. Finley, Quilts in EveryDay Life 1855-1955 (Schiffer Publishing, 2012).