Quilting - Piecing Together a Nation Patty Gilbert Presentation developed as part of the Adventure of the American Mind project funded through the Library of Congress.

Unit 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, 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 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 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 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 New Inventions 1860 – ,000 Patents Issued –Typewriters –Sewing machines –Phonographs The Singer Sewing Machine

Leaving 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 Railway – M ay 10, 1869 Connected coast to coast Reduced costs of shipped goods Trains still noisy, uncomfortable and unsafe for travelers TRAIN DEPOT

Train 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 In 1890 new power stations provided electricity for lighting, fans, printing presses and many other newly invented appliances Street Lights

Quilting, 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 Beautiful Quilts were used for warmth and comfort Quilts were used to decorate the homes

A 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