Quilts have a very long history in America—their creation preceded the establishment of the country. More than just a way to keep warm, these coverings are a vessel for passing down history. One of my favorite examples of this is Civil War quilts—particularly Lucinda Ward Honstain’s Reconciliation Quilt sewn in 1867.
Comprising 40 applique illustrations, Lucinda features a mixture of political and personal events. Of the autobiographical squares, one of the most striking parts of the quilt is near the center. Here, three squares have been merged into one long panel that displays her home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Additionally, her family was the dry goods business, which is also depicted in the quilt—second row from the bottom. The man driving the wagon is thought to be her brother.
The Civil War ended in 1865, a fact reflected in Reconciliation Quilt. Two of the blocks make mention of this significant event; one features Confederate president Jefferson Davis being freed after his imprisonment, while the other depicts a black man talking to a white man on horseback. On the second block from the left in the third row stating, “Master, I am free.”
Just as quilts offer a way to transmit information, they are also a way to express opinions. It seems that Lucinda’s work tries to remain objective about things like the war. In doing so, lacks a discussion about difficult subjects like slavery and citizenship—topics we are still discussing today.
Learn more about this quilt in Robert Shaw’s book, American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1780 — 2007.