Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt, Community, and Craft

by Jane Kirkpatrick

A fantastic journey. A remarkable commitment. And a simple faith.

Wrap yourself in a riveting American tale told in beautiful stitches and craft

Master storyteller Jane Kirkpatrick extols the beautiful treasures, unknown to a wider public, rediscovered in the Old Aurora Colony of Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. The people and legacy of Aurora, a utopian community founded in the mid-1800s, will stir your imagination, hopes, and dreams; and remind you that every life matters–every daily task, love, aspiration, and endeavor.

~Featuring~
Unique and treasured quilt pattern variations
More than 100 photographs (many never-before published) from 1850 to today
Cherished stories from Aurora descendants
Discoveries of fine crafts from the Colony and private collections
With an introduction by renowned American Artist John Houser

Aurora is about the difference every ordinary life can make–and a beautiful celebration of a time and place in which people expressed their most cherished beliefs through the work of their imagination and hands.

Genres: Nonfiction

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Kirkpatrick brings us a story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community."

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think there is something to be said for the Aurora and Bethel communities and their close connection to the land and each other and God. I live in a neighborhood where a wave is often hard to come by and I really couldn't imagine the family and friends and love someone might feel in a community such as Aurora. A beautiful book with many extraordinary pictures and writing of days gone by.

[Sally Atwell Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first began reading this book, I almost stopped. But then I continued and was glad that I did. I did not know about the Aurora Community nor their other communities in Missouri and Pennsylvania. Jane Fitzpatrick did an excellent job in organizing the book,with many pictures of people; quilts; hand made tools, furniture, and homes; family treasures; buildings; and people working together. The philosophy, inspired by their leader, was to do good works for others, which included neighbors and people that were not members. The entire idea worked for over twenty years. To read about all the activities these folks began and continued was wonderful.

At some point, I want to travel to Aurora, Oregon, and visit the museum and buildings, where events and activities still continue.

[Fern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Kirkpatrick was our speaker at Our Staff Enrichment Day. The subjet of her talk was about this group of "German Bethelites", and their settlement in Aurora Oregon, close to the border, between Washington and Oregon. It was a lot about the quilts, they made, but it was also history, of the fiction book, she also wrote about this group, called, "A Clearing in the Wilderness" which I also read.

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book uses quilts, crafts and arts from the Aurora colony to tell the story of the colony. I loved the photos and crafts. The way the author laid it out didn't work for me- but it may just be my personality didn't match her style.

[Gelsey]

A history of Aurora, Oregon, started as a utopian Christian community by German-American pioneers from Bethel, Missouri, in the 19th century. Focusing on the towns historical craft-(specifically quilts and other textiles) based community.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2010 and re-read it before visiting the community of Aurora, OR, this May. It was great to hear the author talk about her writing and also to see many of the quilts pictured in this book. I love the fact that quilts can leave a legacy for future generations.

[Jan D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had just finished reading EMMA, a trilogy based on the Aurora community. I enjoyed finding out about the people that Jane Kirkpatrick based the novels on. Pictures made it even more interesting. A lovely book!

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about these 19th century Christian efforts at community living and the many wonderful things they created. It's too bad that their leader did not plan for continuing the communities after his death.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful companion book to the Aurora community books by Jane Kirkpatrick. It is a great historical book with lots of photos and themes

[A Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, non-fiction companion to the "Change and Cherish Historical Series."

[Ig-88 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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[Mary Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very excited to discover this book at my local public library but ended up deeply disappointed. The author is frequently taken by flights of fancy and makes wild assumptions that are impossible to verify. Additionally, many of these claims seem improbable to anyone who has read a decent amount of academic nonfiction. The Aurora Colony is depicted in the most saccharine manner, with obviously problematic aspects (i.e., religious cult, anyone?) completely glossed over. In her writing life, the author is primarily a writer of, as she puts it, "historical stories" (p. 139), and it shows in her inability to stay focused on primary records, sloppy filling in of details, aggressive historical revisionism, completely illogical formatting (she jumps around constantly and nothing is approached chronologically), and endless repetition (mainly due to a lack of good formatting). It also frequently reads like a museum flyer or advertisement for the author's novels, which I found intensely annoying. My search for great nonfiction works concerning historic textiles and/or Oregon continues....

[Marie Carmean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely view of the German religious community established in Aurora Mills, OR in the Willamette Valley (the only such community on the west coast.) Not only was this a highly successful group, it also brought wonderful craftwork and artistry into the area that is now called Aurora. Jane Kirkpatrick examines their way of life and celebrates their wonderful craftsmanship and skills, which is evidenced today in the Aurora Museum. You meet the various families that made up the group and learn that many of their decedents still live in the area today. Wonderful informative writing and many full color photographs grace the book. A real gem!

[IdahoGirl4ever · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so wish I had read this book BEFORE going to Aurora and the Aurora Community Pioneer Museum! Yet another excellent book by Jane Kirkpatrick.