“I love the ideas of looking back to historical heroes to give us inspiration on how we can be today’s heroes to move forward in the future.”
- Kirk Cameron, The Way of the Master
Here are a few recognizable historic figures who have played a role in the Quilters Club stories. Many are related to quilting, while others are merely interesting references to famous people from the past. Don’t bother to get out your pencils; there will be no History 101 pop quiz.
• Louis Antoine Godey (1804 - 1878) – Publisher of Godey’s Lady’s Book, the first successful women’s fashion magazine.
• Sarah Josepha Hale (1788 - 1879) – Editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. Author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
• Frank Leslie (1821 - 1880) – Publisher of Leslie’s Weekly. Birth name, Henry Carter.
• Miriam Florence Squier Leslie (1836 – 1914) – The wife of Frank Leslie and heir to his publishing business. After her husband’s death, she oddly changed her own name to his, Frank Leslie.
• Edward William Bok (1863 - 1930) – One-time editor of Ladies’ Home Journal. A fan of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
• Kimberly Wulfert, PhD – A noted quilting historian.
• Amelia Earhart (1897 - 1937) – First female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic.
• Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926) – Born Erik Weisz. A noted magician and escape artist.
• Thomas Nast (1840 - 1902) – Harper’s Weekly cartoonist. Considered the “Father of the American Cartoon.” Created modern version of Santa Claus, established the elephant as symbol of GOP, and popularized Uncle Sam.
• Kenneth Arnold (1915 - 1984) – A private pilot who in 1947 spotted five disc-like objects flying in formation near Mount Rainier in Washington State. This popularized the term “flying saucer.”
• James Dean (1931 - 1955) – Actor born in Marion, Indiana. Starred in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause.
• Mad Anthony Wayne (1745 - 1795) – A Major-General appointed by George Washington. He headed up a newly formed military force called the Legion of the United States. As commander of US troops in the Northwest Indian War, he defeating several tribes at the Battle of Fallen Timber.
• Lief Ericson (ca. 970 - ca. 1020) – Norse explorer, the first known European to set foot on continental North America.
• Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant (ca. 1777 - ca. 1877) – A one-eyed fur-trapper and tavern keeper, the first person of European descent to live within the borders of what would eventually become the city of St. Paul, Minnesota.
• John Wilkes Booth (1838 - 1865) – Assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Aunt Hilda claims to have his femur (not true).
• D.W. Griffith (1875 - 1948) – Famous director, producer, and writer who pioneered many modern cinematic techniques. Directed Birth of a Nation and Intolerance.
Noted Quilters • Mildred Potter Lissauer (1897 - 1998) – Famous appliqué quilter. Creator of the Godey Quilt.
• Martha Potter – Mildred’s mother.
• Helga Hoople – Made the so-named Frank Leslie Quilt, similar to the famous Godey Quilt.
• Marie Webster – Designed the noted “Pink Dogwoods in Appliqué” and other quits. Started one of the first quilting patterns businesses.
• Sarah Connors Pennington – A turn-of-the-century Amish woman whose handmade quilts are considered masterpieces of the needlecraft art.
• Sarah Soldemier – A cousin of Thomas Nast. Made a patchwork quilt with the “Uncle Sam” Santa.
• Lucinda Ward Honstain – Created the magnificent Renaissance Quilt(s) in 1867.
• Ursula Andrea Jinks – Wife of Ol’ Ferdy, a Town Founder. Created a quilt that served as a treasure map to the hidden Jinks gold.
• Mad Matilda Wilkins – A reputed witch who created a famous quilt covered in arcane imagery and runic symbols.
• Mary Louise Madison – Produced the “Shooting Star Quilt,” the 1898 pictorial quilt showing the famous Madison Meteorite.
|
