“When You Walk About, They Will Guide You”
A few days ago, I wrote about the family relationship between God and His Son Jesus. For the illustration, I used this quilt panel depicting when Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove, and God declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
I also shared a picture of the whole quilt.
Harriet Powers’ Bible Quilt, 1885-1886,
courtesy of the Smithsonian American History Museum,
gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Heckman
Today I’d like to tell you more about Harriet Powers and her quilt. Harriet Powers was born into slavery on October 29, 1837, near Athens, Georgia, about 70 miles east of downtown Atlanta. While still very young, she married Armstead Powers. The couple had at least nine children. Sometime after the Civil War, Harriet and Armstead bought a farm.
In 1886, when Harriet was 49 years old, she exhibited her quilt at the Athens Cotton Fair. Young local artist Jennie Smith saw the quilt at the fair. She later wrote:
I have spent my whole life in the South, and am perfectly familiar with thirty patterns of quilts, but I had never seen an original design, and never a living creature portrayed in patchwork, until the year 1886, when there was held in Athens, Georgia, a “Cotton-Fair,” which was on a much larger scale than an ordinary county fair, as there was a “Wild West” show, and Cotton Weddings; and a circus, all at the same time. There was a large accumulation of farm products–the largest potatoes, tallest cotton stalk, biggest water-melon! Best display of pickles and preserves made by exhibitor! Best display of seeds &c and all the attractions usual to such occasions, and in one corner there hung a quilt which “captured my eye” and after much difficulty I found the owner, a negro woman, who lives in the country on a little farm whereon she and husband make a respectable living . . . . The scenes on the quilt were biblical and I was fascinated. I offered to buy it, but it was not for sale at any price.
Sometime later, Armstead and Harriet Powers faced hard times financially. They were able to hold on to their home, but they had to sell part of their farm. I don’t know whether it was before or after they sold the land, but in 1890 Armstead encouraged Harriet to sell her quilt. Mrs. Powers contacted Jennie Smith, but Smith was also having financial difficulties then and could not afford to buy it.
When finances eased for Jennie Smith, she sent word to Mrs. Powers that she would buy the quilt if Mrs. Powers still wanted to sell it. Harriet Powers drove an oxcart to the Smith’s door one afternoon. In her lap was her precious quilt which she had put into a clean flour sack before putting the flour sack into a burlap bag, also called a gunnysack or, in the words of Jennie Smith, a crocus sack. Mrs. Powers told Mrs. Smith that the price was $10.00. Mrs. Smith later wrote that she had only $5.00 to give her for it.
With regret, Mrs. Powers handed her beloved creation to Mrs. Smith, but first she explained to her what each panel represented. I’d like to tell you the subject of some of them.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve with One of their Sons
Cain Kills Abel
Jacob’s Dream
Mary, Jesus, and Joseph
Judas Iscariot and the Thirty Pieces of Silver
The Last Supper
The Crucifixion
Harriet passed away on New Year’s Day of 1910 at age 72 and was buried in the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery in Athens, near where she was born. I’m sure she never dreamed that her quilt would be in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. The work she did continues to point people to God’s truth. Be assured that the time you invest in your children, your own labors of love, will also last.
My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
Proverbs 6:20-22