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Mary Allen Smith Williams

Quiltmaker

  Fouke, Arkansas, United States    

Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

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Mary Allen Smith Williams (c1889-c1971) is an Arkansas quilter of African American heritage. She was born to enslaved parents, David and Mary Ann Allen, and lived in Ouachita County near Camden, Arkansas. Her family home was a four-room dogtrot-style log cabin near Camden, Arkansas. Her adult life was spent around Fouke, Arkansas. She was the youngest daughter of six known surviving children. She married her first husband in 1903 when she was fifteen years old. Her second husband was Sam Williams. Altogether, Mary had eleven children (two sets of twin girls) that all grew up around Fouke, Arkansas. She never learned to read or write but made sure all her daughters knew how to quilt. Fabrics for quilting were salvaged from old clothes, feed and flour sacks, worn sheets, sewing scraps, and sometimes obtained by trading. Cotton for batting was gathered in the field after the cotton harvest or from remnants that fell off the trucks. Occasionally burlap sacks were used as batting. Absolutely nothing was wasted. It was unheard of in her day to use new fabric for quilting. (Benberry, 10-11).

When was the quiltmaker born?

1889

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

Date and place of death.

1971

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Educational background:

She never learned to read or write but made sure all her daughters knew how to quilt.

Religious affiliation:

Baptist

Occupation (if retired, former occupation):

Homemaker

Where was the quiltmaker born?

near Camden, Arkansas (AR), United States

Where did the quiltmaker grow up?

Rural

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Allen

Father's Name:

David Allen

Mother's Name:

Mary Allen

Mother's ethnic/tribal background:

African American

Number of children:

Eleven children (two sets of twin girls).

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From relative

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Under 10 years of age

Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:

Necessity, Pleasure

Other reasons the quiltmaker makes/made quilts.

Her mother Mary Ann Allen was formerly enslaved in Camden, Arkansas. This is the person who taught Mary Allen Smith Williams how to quilt.

Estimate the number of quilts made by this maker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

only informally

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