Browse Exhibits (2 total)
Covering America: The Textile Heritage of 19th-Century Quilts
This exhibit is derived from the larger National Quilt Collection housed at the National Museum of American History. The full collection is comprised of more than 500 examples of America's rich quilting heritage and encompasses more than 250 years of history. The quilts represent a diverse array of ethnic groups and social classes and were created for a variety of purposes, from utilitarian bedding to decorative art. The materials held in the National Quilt Collection are physical representations of the American experience and have been preserved in trust on behalf of all Americans.
Covering America intends to introduce the public to a small sample of the quilts that are part of the larger collection and which are seldom on display. It features quilts created throughout the 19th century and includes historical context, creator details, and engaging stories.
"This Period of Grave Crisis": North Carolinians Respond to Brown, 1954-1974
On Monday, May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court handed down its decision in a series of cases collectively known as Brown v. Board of Education. The ruling abolished the former "separate but equal" policy set forth in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), stating that such a doctrine had "no place in the field of public education." Southern reaction to the decision was largely negative, with many states vowing to oppose the Supreme Court's interference at all costs. In North Carolina, the response was filled with mixed emotions as the state grappled with the conundrum of defying the order while maintaining a progressive reputation.
"This Period of Grave Crisis": North Carolinians Respond to Brown, 1954-1974 traces two decades of reactions from North Carolina's citizens to the ideas and efforts of school desegregation. From letters and newspaper editorials to boycotts and private school movements, the Tar Heel State's diverse inhabitants employed various tactics to ensure that their voices were heard and that their actions influenced how the state's leaders responded to Brown.