The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art, an Oral History

by Patricia J. Cooper, Norma Bradley Allen

“The quilts are beautiful, the faces worn but kind . . . the insights affecting.” —New York Times Book Review “The women who speak through the book shared a vision, a strength, and a spirit that few of us will ever know or understand.” —Christian Science Monitor “You can’t always change things. Sometimes you don’t have no control over the way things go. Hail ruins the crops, or fire burns you out. And then you’re just given so much to work with in a life and you have to do the best you can with what you’ve got. That’s what piecing is. The materials is passed on to you or is all you can afford to buy . . . that’s just what’s given to you. Your fate. But the way you put them together is your business. You can put them in any order you like.” —Mary White, from the Introduction First published in 1977, The Quilters chronicles the lives and quilts of pioneer women of Texas and New Mexico at the turn of the twentieth century. Compelling black and white portraits of the women accompany their moving oral histories, while thirty-six color photographs showcase the quilts. This award-winning book was the basis of the Broadway play Quilters, nominated for seven Tony Awards. Patricia Cooper taught at the University of California at Berkeley until her death in 1987. Norma Bradley Allen is a freelance writer who lives in Cedar Hill, Texas.

Genres: Quilting, Nonfiction, History, Womens

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Christy]

A quick read about women, history, & creativity. Kind of made me want to join a quilting bee.

[Lisa DiGiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire book is told from the mouths of the quilters - harkening back to the late 1800s. Telling stories of homesteading and life in rural communities - building from the ground up. Makes me think of the novel Growth of the Soil. Stories of lives that build things and acts of survival are so inspiring. This cozy history book is no different. Regardless of whether you quilt, the reason they quilted, the patterns they quilted and with whom they quilted is captivating and an important part of our history.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore oral histories, and quilting is a long-held fascination of mine (my own efforts are passing fair at best), so this is an older title that I stumbled on, somehow, and found absolutely absorbing. The photos of the quilts, homes, and the women themselves, some with their families, were so vividly real, and their stories, transcribed with the original grammar, idioms, and dialect of each quilter really brought this art form, and the relation it has to American history, to life. Just one example:

"My daddy was a Baptist preacher. I reckon you can tell that by how ornery I am."

Great women with fantastic stories and a devotion to their families, homemaking, and quilting (mostly for practical purposes, their own home use or for donations) - how did I not find this decades-old title sooner?

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing! Ms. Cooper interviewed many women (and some men) whose quilts were bound into the very lives they led. In this modern day it is hard to imagine the rigorous lives of these pioneering spirits who forged a life for themselves and their families through tough times. The stories range from sweet to astounding to sad to funny and each one gives a glimpse into the important events of these people's existence.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Hearing the words of long time quilters from many years ago told me not just about their quilting but also about their way of life. The photos of their quilts only added to the story. Quilting was like breathing to them. What a legacy!

[Kathryn French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. This is the book the musical "The Quilters" is based on. I could read these ladies' stories endlessly.

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a copy of this at a used book sale recently. I'm so glad I brought it home. The authors interviewed women in Texas and New Mexico who create quilts. They share stories of living in dugouts, traveling the prairie in wagons as children, making do during The Depression, joys and sorrows of country life - all the while keeping their patchwork close at hand. It was published in 1977 - a time when quilting and needle arts were being rediscovered by women of all ages. These firsthand accounts are a wonderful introduction to talented artists and a way of life, both long gone, with only the beauty of their labors left behind to remember them by.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book of oral histories recorded of women (and some men), of their lives, and of the quilts that were such an important element in the ways they lived. Each story beautifully painted a picture of what their lives looked like, and of the world that surrounded them. What a wonderful find!

[Mckenna Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a joy to read through. oral history in this form--written down and uneditted--is one of the best ways to understand social and cultural history. reading rather than listening to what these ladies said leaves more to be imagined and allows for the history to be consumed like literary vignettes.

[KateMoxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We saw a high school performance of The Quilters and I felt I had to read the book. It was an interesting and delightful read.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book of women and their parents who settled in the southwest in hard times and who also had a passion to quilt. I wish names, pictures, and quilts matched on the pages.

[Hannah Persyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful oral history, celebrating quilting and the women who weave their lives into their creations

[Laura Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully demonstrates how the quilt is borne of the landscape, the relationships and the people who craft them. The oral history in this book inspired me to think about how I could create a quilt in the context of the world I live in, the relationships that matter to me and the story that I would like to tell. I like this book so much I bought it in soft and hard copy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this lovely book in just two days. The stories of the women's lives is so touching. Hearing their trails and tribulations of a life in harsh climates and how quilting got them through it all was very touching. The ispiration behind the book, the resulting outcome for the women involved and the pictures of the quilts are all so beautiful. A book to keep on your shelf to come back to time and time again.

The usual questions:
Did I think about this book when I was not reading it: yes, I constantly wanted to pick it up and read about these amazing women and look at the beautiful pictures. Was I dissappointed when it was finished: yes, and I will continue to return to this book for inspiration as I quilt and plan quilts. Would I recommend this book to a friend: most certainly and I already have. Anyone with an interest in women's history, the pioneer days of New Mexico and Texas, quilting or family history would enjoy this book.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring. Reminded me of one of the main reasons women stitch--community with other women. When you were a mother of six on a ranch miles from another family, you showed up for quilting bees when they happened! Women quilted because they needed to, for bedcoverings, but they also often took pride in their work, loved the quilts they made. Realized about a third of the way into it it was one of the sources for the play The Quilters. I really enjoyed the way the authors simply transcribed the women's voices from their recorded interviews. The voices are true. Really got me motivated to work art into my day--with handwork I could, like they did, stitch for five minutes here, five minutes there.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. I wish it didn't end. There was just something so wonderful and historic about reading the words of the quilters of long ago. The stories were sometimes hard to read, emotionally, but I couldn't put it down.

[Jennifer Schooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pieces of history told by quilters in the 70's, as they remembered their pioneer childhoods, remind me to be thankful for the ease of modern life and to be thriftier and waste less. And the quilts are amazing examples of folk art!

[Lisa Wegener · Rating 5 out of 5]

facinating oral history of quilters at the turn of the century

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting history!

[Barb Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book sent to me by Joyce. I loved it! The voices of old women talking about settling the west and quilting with what they had. Magnificent!

[Julesdalamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this short look at the history of a few women quilters.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about the stories of a handful of women living and quilting in the first part of the 20th century than about quilting. Interesting oral histories of some early American pioneers.

[Frances Sawaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reference book that I use constantly in teaching about this craft/art. Moving and inspiational. Recommended not only for quilters but for those seeking to learn more about life in the 30s.