Interview with Renee Jackson, November 4, 2000

Partial Transcript: Okay. Today is November the 4th, 2000, and I'm here at the Quilters' S.O.S. project at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.

Segment Synopsis: Ferris introduces the interview.

Partial Transcript: So, I want to start off talking just about your own interest in quilts, and your family's attachment to quilts.

Segment Synopsis: Jackson describes some of the pieces made by her great-grandmother Willie Anna Brooks Newman. She also mentions a piece made by women in a Loudon County, Va., African American community. She gives biographical information about Newman as well as Jackson's grandmother Mollie Elizabeth Baylor Newman. She tells the story behind the community quilt and how the women in the region learned to sew. She describes her family's 1920s pea hen pattern quilt in depth. She mentions future plans she has for the 1920s quilt and for researching the woman who taught the community to sew.

Keywords: African American quiltmakers; African American quilts; Antique quilts; Grandmothers; Inherited quilts; Quilt patterns; Teaching quiltmaking

Subjects: African American quiltmakers; African American quilts; Quilting--United States--Patterns.

Partial Transcript: Tell me a little bit about what you know about the history of women in your family and sewing.

Segment Synopsis: Jackson discusses her great-grandmother's quilting and the types of sewing she did. She mentions what happened to her great-grandmother's materials after her death. She explains how the woman who taught sewing to the community had an impact on Jackson's own education. She lists her own university degrees and research experience. She describes the dresses that her grandmother made for her and her sister. She discusses her grandmother's quilting, involvement in sewing bees, and memories of quilting bees. Jackson describes the three quilts that survive in her family from the quilting bees. She explains how her mother and aunt, Edith May Newman Jackson Friday and Julia Lorraine Paige, learned to sew from Jackson's grandmother. She discusses which other family members sew. She talks about her ancestors sewing for family rather than professionally.

Keywords: Art education; Family; Generational quiltmaking; Grandmothers; Learning quiltmaking; Quilt history; Quilt memory; Quilt patterns; Social quiltmaking activities

Subjects: Clothing and dress; Dressmaking; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Sewing

Partial Transcript: Can you give me a quick kind of background on your family's history, how they came to Virginia, how long there?

Segment Synopsis: Jackson explains her family's historical connection to Virginia, especially Orange, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties. She discusses the types of work her ancestors did in the 20th century. She talks about the women's roles within their families.

Keywords: Family

Subjects: African Americans--Genealogy

Partial Transcript: So a lot of I think what you've told us today really answers the question that I want to ask you next, but I want to go ahead and ask it to you anyway,

Segment Synopsis: Jackson explains why quilting was important in women's lives historically. She discusses the role of quilts in studying American history. She talks about Log Cabin quilts and their role with the Underground Railroad.

Keywords: Log Cabin (quilt pattern); Quilt history; Social quiltmaking activities

Subjects: Log cabin quilts; Underground Railroad

Partial Transcript: Um, I wanted to ask again, because we missed this part of the story and you talked about it a little bit the other day,

Segment Synopsis: Jackson tells the story behind her grandmother sharing the community-made quilt and its history with her. She shares the story of finding historic photographs of her great-grandparents. She discusses the meaning behind having her grandmother's thimble. She talks about her grandmother's quilts that are in the family and the family photographs Jackson now has. She talks about finding historic property documents and why they would have been useful earlier. She discusses the quilting hoop she inherited and what she plans to do with all of these historical items.

Keywords: Family; Inherited quilts; Quilting hoops

Partial Transcript: And have you quilted before?

Segment Synopsis: Jackson talks about taking quilting workshops and how she feels about starting the work on her family's heirloom quilts. She describes her great-grandmother's appearance, especially the color of her eyes. She discusses how her other family members feel about her working with the quilts. She mentions whether or not there are other quilters among her family and friends.

Keywords: Family; Inherited quilts; Quiltmaking classes

Partial Transcript: So which aspects, even though you've just begun, do you think you most enjoy about quilting and the aspects you don't particularly enjoy?

Segment Synopsis: Jackson shares how she feels about the applique process and how her grandmother's quality of work influences her own standards. She discusses how she hears her ancestors' voices.

Keywords: Applique; Family; Quiltmaking process

Partial Transcript: Did you say there was a photograph or just an index card of the women that were the quilters that had signed the blocks?

Segment Synopsis: Jackson talks about going through family photographs and the potential to find photos of the other quilters in the local African American community. She mentions how they are tied together through the churches.

Keywords: African American quilts; Quilt documentation; Quilt history

Subjects: African American quiltmakers

Partial Transcript: We're almost finished with our time.

Segment Synopsis: Jackson explains how she wants to document and preserve her historic quilts. She tells a story about saving her great-uncle's sheep shears. She discusses if she would want to put the quilts in a museum.

Keywords: Quilt preservation

Subjects: Museums

Partial Transcript: One last question I'd like to ask you is, um, how do you think these quilts or do you think these objects and these quilts reflect specifically about your region where you're from or Virginia?

Segment Synopsis: Jackson explains why she thinks the quilts reflect the resourcefulness of their region. She describes a nine patch quilt that her mother has. She mentions some types of quilts and techniques she never saw in her grandmother's collection.

Keywords: Antique quilts; Fabric - Feedsack; Quilt purpose - Utilitarian

Partial Transcript: Well, I'd like to thank Renee Jackson for participating in this interview today,

Segment Synopsis: Ferris wraps up the interview.