close iframe icon
approved icon 1Ernesto avatar
1Ernesto
Banner

Varina Howell Davis Family Quilt circa 1850

This is a photo of a quilt on display in the daughter’s bedroom of the Beauvoir Mansion, the last home of Jefferson and Varina Davis. The Librarian-Archivist-...
Read more

This is a photo of a quilt on display in the daughter’s bedroom of the Beauvoir Mansion, the last home of Jefferson and Varina Davis. The Librarian-Archivist-Curator Dennie B. Spence of the The Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library wrote the following -- “What is known concretely about the quilt is: It came to us only four years ago courtesy of the descendants of the Howell family (Varina Howell Davis' family). The family claims that it was made by two of Varina's nieces for Varina herself. The problem with nailing down a hard fact is, it has also been said that Varina's daughters made it, as well as Varina helped her nieces construct it. Given that there are no less than 3 Varina Howells, this mottles the history of the piece as well. What is known, the style is not uncommon to the 1850s, and it came from the Howell family, made by the ladies (or daughters) of the family and the quilt came to us only four years ago and is thusly, not original to the house.”…………Quilts are an integral part of the picture of this tumultuous period of American history the Civil War, because they tell the story of the other half who lived through it: the women of the North and the South. Just a very few of the quilts made for soldiers have survived. As you can imagine these quilts got a great deal of wear and probably did not seem worth saving after the war. Many completely wore out. If you add to that the fact that many soldiers were buried in their quilts you can understand why these quilts are extremely rare today.
Read less

Views

304

Likes

Awards

Winner in Handmade items NO FOOD Photo Challenge
Top Choice
HannahG7 thatunicorngal valeriemurchie-stolpe trainwoman bearinmybackyard closetoHOme
Superb Composition
kenyale chuckrickman reginaldgargaro67
Absolute Masterpiece
animals eranschaffer
Outstanding Creativity
Rustybucket8472 Gita
All Star
loveMustangs
Peer Award
christinewallace

Categories


2 Comments | Report
valeriemurchie-stolpe
 
valeriemurchie-stolpe July 05, 2015
Wow that took someone a very long time to make.
valeriemurchie-stolpe
 
valeriemurchie-stolpe July 05, 2015
What an array of patterns and designs.
See all
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.