quilting - piecing together a nation patty gilbert presentation developed as part of the adventure...
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Quilting - Piecing Together a Quilting - Piecing Together a NationNation
Patty GilbertPresentation developed as part of the Adventure of the American Mind project funded through the Library of Congress.
Unit GoalsUnit Goals
To identify aspects of everyday life in a pioneer home during the late 1800s
To bring the American Memory Collection into the class room
To introduce high school sophomores to aspects of US History
To encourage the use of technology in all areas of learning
Westward, Westward, Ho!Ho!
Homestead Act of 1862 Offered anyone who met the requirements
160 acres of land!! Gave people hope of owning a home and
land, riches and a better way of life for their families
Life on the Prairie Life on the Prairie
Pioneers’ basic necessities did not come without a struggle
Water had to be hauled in buckets or collected in a cistern when it rained
Well-digging dangerous and difficult
Tough prairie sod difficult and backbreaking to plow
Prairie Home LifePrairie Home Life
Women had to make many articles that the family needed – clothing, soap, candles and preserved food
Quilts for warmth were made by and from scraps and bits of worn clothing Family in front of cabin
New Technology Improved LivesNew Technology Improved Lives
In 1870’s new inventions made life easier:
Plows to plow several rows at once
Harrows to break up group before planting
1875: Steam powered threshers
1890’s: cornhuskers & cornbinders
Diagram of Telegraph
Era of Tremendous Growth in NewEra of Tremendous Growth in NewInventionsInventions
1860 – 1890 500,000 Patents Issued– Typewriters– Sewing machines– Phonographs
The Singer Sewing Machine
Leaving Home BehindLeaving Home Behind
One of the most difficult hardships was leaving behind family and loved ones
No assurance they would ever see them again
New communication advances diminished fears of isolation Local Post Office
Transcontinental RailwayTranscontinental Railway – – MMay 10, 1869ay 10, 1869
Connected coast to coast
Reduced costs of shipped goods
Trains still noisy, uncomfortable and unsafe for travelers
TRAIN DEPOT
Train SchedulesTrain Schedules
No standard time – caused much confusion
Each town set time according to the sun
Difficult to schedule trains
Four new “time zones” for nation to aid scheduling
Time Schedule
Power Stations Power Stations
In 1890 new power stations provided electricity for lighting, fans, printing presses and many other newly invented appliances
Street Lights
Quilting, a Way of LifeQuilting, a Way of Life
Techniques passed down from mother to daughter
Quilting was a form of recreation and necessity
Quilting Bees were social events for the women
Men had to do for themselves while the women were at the Quilting Bee
Quilts were judged at the local fairs
Quilting Bees
State Fair
Quilts Were Functional and Quilts Were Functional and BeautifulBeautiful
Quilts were used for warmth and comfort
Quilts were used to decorate the homes
A Final WordA Final Word
Original photos, graphics, and documents come from the American Memory Collection of the Library of Congress
Prepared as a part of the Adventures of the American Mind Project through the Library of Congress at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina