Uncommon Threads: Black Representation in Early American Needlework
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Lecture Hall
In early America, education for girls primarily focused on reading, writing, and needlework. While few Black girls had the opportunity to attend schools where they learned fancy needlework, some did. Additionally, although most white girls' embroideries did not feature Black people, there are instances where these works subtly reflect the lives and experiences of people of color.
Emelie Gevalt, Curator of Folk Art and Curatorial Chair for Collections at the Museum of American Folk Art, will explore both explicit and implicit representations of people of color in early American needlework, highlighting pieces created by both Black and white makers.
The lecture will be presented with live American Sign Language interpretation.
- 5:15 – 6:45 p.m. Cocktail reception in Rivera Court
- 7 – 8:00 p.m. Lecture in Lecture Hall
The lecture is supported by the Ida and Conrad H. Smith Fund, established by the Raymond C. Smith Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Image: Melancia Bowker (age 13), Sampler, 1817. Collection of Sharon and Jeffery Lipton
Uncommon Threads: Black Representation in Early American Needlework
Ticket Details
Additional Dates
Lecture Hall
Related Exhibition
Painted with Silk
The Art of Early American Embroidery
December 13, 2024 - June 15, 2025
From the 1600s until about 1830, the education of American girls emphasized reading, writing, and embroidery. For girls whose families could afford to send them to school, a finely worked embroidery which was worthy of being framed for display in her home served as a kind of diploma. It evidenced both her mastery of an important practical skill and the diligence and self-discipline that society expected of its more privileged members.
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