One American Family: A Tale of North and South
Subject
One American Family: A Tale of North and South
Title
One American Family: A Tale of North and South
Description
Inspired by the 2018 publication of An American Quilt: Unfolding a Story of Family and Slavery, by URI's Rachel May (PhD '15), this exhibition reveals a complex story of the social and economic relationships between the industrial North and agrarian South in antebellum America. The exhibition features objects that represent some of the more than 500 late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century textiles, clothing, and related items donated by the Cushman family of Providence, Rhode Island.
In her book, Rachel May envisions the world of the urban enslaved women owned by the Cushman ancestors in Charleston, South Carolina, and explores the oft-silenced connections and economic benefits of slavery to northern families and communities.
Contributor
Rebecca Kelly, Instructor and Susan J. Jerome, Collections Manager
Collection Items
Woman's Dress, 1830s
This dress of printed cotton reflects the style of the late 1830s. The sleeves were reproduced by graduate students to replace those that were removed from the dress prior to the donation.Swatches of this fabric can be found in the quilt tops also…
Maternity Dresses, 1830s
Both of these dresses reflects the at-home style worn during the 1830s.The high-waisted style was popular during the time when Susan and her sister Emily were having children. The large sleeves became fashionable in the early 1830s, remaining so…
Woman's brown dress, 1830s
This dress was possibly sewn by Susan Williams Crouch. The Collection houses other dresses possibly sewn by Susan.
Woman's Dress, 1840s
This gown of silk tafetta was possibly worn by Susan Crouch’s younger sister, Sarah Rose Williams (1822 – 1854), when she married Lewis J. Chace. Worn before the discovery of aniline dyes, the original pink color is evident in the folds of the skirt.
Men's Clothing, early 19th century
These items belonged to ancestors of Franklin Cushman. They reflect the variety of fabrics available at the time, from common cotton checks to finely-woven silk fabrics imported from Europe.The tailcoat represents the earliest garment, worn as…
Rachel May, 2017
Color photograph of author Rachel May, who wrote An American Quilt: Unfolding a Story of Family and Slavery (New York and London: Pegasus Books, 2018).