This Week In History

This week the city of Athens, GA will celebrate Harriet Powers Day.  A former slave, Quiltmaker Harriet Powers was born this week in 1837.  Her work is considered among the finest examples of Southern quilting from the 19th century.

One of only two surviving examples of her work, the “Bible Quilt” is currently exhibited in the Smithsonian.

“A Quilt unlike Any Other”: Rediscovering the Work of Harriet Powers” by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is available for online checkout through the Cannell library as an ebook chapter .

Born of the conversation between the president of the French anti-slavery society and a sculptor, Liberty Enlightening the World was dedicated this week 193 years ago.

Enlightening the world the creation of the Statue of Liberty, by Yasmin Sabina Khan, is available online through the Cannell library.

This week marks the beginning of Día de Muertos, anglicized as the Day of the Dead, a celebration that honors friends and family members who have passed away.

Check out author Duncan Tonatuih’s book, Funny bones : Posada and his Day of the Dead calaveras, which can be found in our Renaissance Kid’s section for a unique personal history of some of the celebrations artwork.

¹ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/PowersBibleQuilt_1886.jpg
² https://pixabay.com/users/parentrap-2161438/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2327760
³ https://www.flickr.com/photos/portalnay/5140997940