Interview with Viola Williams Canady, July 12, 2002

Partial Transcript: The project is for the Alliance of American Quilters, and this is part of the Quilters Save Our Stories project. This is tape number 01, and the informant is Viola Canady. The interviewer is Evelyn Salinger. The scribe is Ruth Duncan. We are meeting at the Cardinal Quilters, Alexandria, Virginia, July 12th, 2002, and it's 11:00 in the morning. This is a short practice interview.

Segment Synopsis: Canady's quilt was made using string piecing and an applique technique that involves sewing shapes onto paper first, then removing the paper and appliqueing the joined shapes. The quilt reminds Canady of her childhood. Canady's mother was a seamstress and used to bring home all of the fabric scraps for her to use. Canady learned to sew at a young age before she went to school. Colorful scrap quilts appeal to her, because she only had scraps to work with when she began to learn quiltmaking. When she was a child, her family had both "good quilts," used for guests and special occasions, and "utility quilts" made from old clothing. When the utility quilts eventually become dirty and worn out, the fabric would be washed and incorporated into new quilts.

Keywords: Applique; Cardinal Quilters; Crazy quilts; Family; Learning quiltmaking; Mothers; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Scrap quilts; Sewing; Stained glass quilts; Strip/string piecing; Techniques; Touchstone quilt

Subjects: African American quiltmakers; Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: Now who was quilting in your family before you?

Segment Synopsis: When asked who was quilting in Canady's family before she started quiltmaking, Canady replies "everybody," including her grandmother, mother, and aunt. Canady grew up in a sharecropping family in North Carolina, and quilting was necessary for the family to have bed covers. They made utility quilts from scraps of old clothing. Canady and her mother also pieced quilts for other people, and they were able to keep the scraps of new fabric that were leftover after finishing a quilt.

Keywords: Fabric - Multiple scrap; Family; Grandmothers; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Quiltmaking for family; Scrap quilts

Subjects: African American quiltmakers; Quilting; Quiltmakers--United States--North Carolina

Partial Transcript: Now I know you had a professional life of sewing. How did you get into that? Or, at least I think that's what you did.

Segment Synopsis: Canady adapted her sewing skills into a career for the Army. She worked for almost twenty years as a tailor fitter. She made decorations for Army officers' uniforms, including General MacArthur and Maxwell Taylor. Canady also took in mending for the officers' wives and made household goods, like slipcovers, draperies, and bedspreads.

Keywords: Professional quiltmakers; Seamstresses; Sewing; Tailors

Subjects: MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964; Maxwell, Taylor; United States. Army

Partial Transcript: I wanted to ask, since we have short time here, I want to ask about the founding of the quilting group that you have.

Segment Synopsis: Canady and her neighbor started a quilting group when she was retiring from the Army. Canady's interest in quilts was reignited when she discovered a quilting magazine in a hospital gift shop. She had never seen a quilting book or magazine before and was fascinated by it. From then on, Canady decided that quiltmaking would be her focus, because she was getting ready to retire. She discovered that there was going to be a quilt show hosted by the National Quilting Association in Greenbelt, Maryland. She'd never been to a quiltmaking show before, but Canady's daughter volunteered to drive her mother and her neighbor to it. Despite initially being fearful to go into the show, she joined the National Quilting Association (NQA) and bought many fabrics during two visits. She used a lot of the fabric later for Stained Glass and Trapunto quilting kits that she used and sold while teaching NQA classes.

Keywords: Greenbelt; Maryland; National Quilting Association; Quilt magazines; Stained glass quilts; Teaching quiltmaking; Techniques; Trapunto quilts

Partial Transcript: So, how did you come about starting your own quilting group then, the Daughters of Dorcas.

Segment Synopsis: For the first year after starting their quilt group, Canady and her neighbor, Etta R. Portlock, were the only two members. They had trouble convincing other people to start quilting and join them. Canady and Portlock would travel to Greenbelt, Maryland to be with a quilting group there. They also took a bus to a National Quilting Association show in Indiana around 1980. No other African American women were at the quilt show, but someone connected them to Cuesta Benberry. Canady started selling her work, which attracted more members to her group. Initially, the group met at Canady's house, until they needed a larger space. Father West at Calvary Episcopal Church agreed to let them use space at the church for free. In return, the group makes a quilt every year that they sell to benefit the church. The group had trouble rounding up fabric during the first year. They started out making Variable Star quilts, and Canady would cut fabric and make quilt kits every week for the group's 32 members.

Keywords: Calvary Episcopal Church; Cuesta Benberry; Daughters of Dorcas; Etta R. Portlock; Greenbelt, Md.; National Quilting Association; Penny Rigdon; Quilt guilds; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Variable Star - quilt pattern; Washington, D.C.

Partial Transcript: When was that officially started?

Segment Synopsis: Canady's started the Daughters of Dorcas quilt group in 1980, but they did not have "a really good group" until 1985. At one point they met in Canady's house, but there were only twelve members at that time. Canady says that there are more than one hundred members now, but some members don't come to the meetings. One special event that Canady remembers was at the University of Kentucky. The National Quilting Association recruited Canady to go to that event to teach her stained glass quilting technique. There were roughly 150 people at that event. Canady received a lot of orders for her quiltmaking kits after teaching the workshop, because many attendees wanted to teach the stained glass technique using the pre-made pieces rather than doing the cutting themselves. At the same event in Covington, Kentucky, Canady was taken to lunch by five National Quilting Association presidents. Canady has also shipped her quiltmaking kits internationally to Germany and Vienna, Austria.

Keywords: Daughters of Dorcas; Germany; National Quilting Association; Quilt Purpose - Personal income; Quilt groups; Stained glass quilts; Teaching quiltmaking; Techniques; Trapunto quilts; Vienna, Austria

Subjects: Covington (Ky.)