20 Facts About Harriet Powers

Harriet Powers was an American folk artist and quilter born into slavery in rural northeast Georgia.

Harriet Powers's quilts are considered among the finest examples of nineteenth-century Southern quilting.

Harriet Powers's work is on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

Harriet Powers was born into slavery in 1837 near Athens, Georgia.

Harriet Powers is believed to have spent her early life on a plantation as a slave, owned by John and Nancy Lester in Madison County and learned to sew from other slaves or from her female enslaver.

In terms of occupation, Harriet Powers was listed as 'keeping house' and her husband as a 'farmhand.

In 1886, Harriet Powers exhibited her first quilt at the Athens Cotton Fair.

Harriet Powers remained in Clarke County for most of her life.

Harriet Powers wrote that she learned Bible stories through her own study of the book.

Harriet Powers died on January 1,1910; and was buried in the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery in Athens.

Harriet Powers was born on a plantation in Clarke County, Georgia.

Harriet Powers exhibited her first quilt, The Bible Quilt, in 1886 at the Athens Cotton Fair.

Harriet Powers refused to sell, but the two women remained in touch.

Four years later, Harriet Powers, met with financial difficulties and encouraged by her husband to sell, offered to sell the quilt to Smith for ten dollars; Smith agreed but talked the price down to five dollars.

Harriet Powers visually communicated with her narrative quilts in themes from her own experience and the techniques from the age-old crafts of African Americans.

Four years later Harriet Powers returned to Smith, offering to sell the quilt because of her family's needs.

Harriet Powers explained the panels to Smith at the time, who recorded her comments.

Harriet Powers visited the quilt on several occasions while Smith owned it, demonstrating its special significance in her life.

Researchers have learned that Harriet Powers was literate, but she might have used her quilts as teaching tools, as many people in her community were likely unable to read.

In 2009, Harriet Powers was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame.