Bettie Bendolph Seltzer facts for kids

Bettie Bendolph Seltzer (born in 1939, died in 2017) was a talented American artist. She was famous for her beautiful quilts made in a special community called Gee's Bend. Her mother, Annie Bendolph, and her mother-in-law, Sue Willie Seltzer, were also part of this quilting group. Bettie also worked with the Freedom Quilting Bee, a group that helped quilters.

About Bettie Seltzer

Bettie was married to Benjamin Seltzer, who was the son of Sue Willie Seltzer. Bettie had an important job as the postmaster in Boykin, Alabama. She really loved her work.

Bettie was very good at her job and made sure everything ran smoothly. She once explained how she managed the post office: "It's not easy, but I love the job. I work six hours a day, every day except Sunday. People come in, get their mail, and leave. Nobody stands around talking. When I'm in the post office, wearing my uniform, I am the postmaster. People don't see me as just Bettie. Even my best friend might come in, get her mail, and leave quickly. They don't chat. I like it that way."

How Bettie Made Quilts

Quilting in Gee's Bend was very important. It helped families survive and brought the community closer. Bettie's mother, Annie Bendolph, taught her how to make quilts. They used old clothes, fertilizer sacks, and even flour sacks.

Bettie started learning to quilt when she was about ten years old. She and her mother would join other women at each other's homes. They would work together to sew quilts for one or two families at a time. Bettie said, "The ladies would piece their quilts at home and then go to each other's houses to help quilt."

Later, the Freedom Quilting Bee allowed women in Gee's Bend to use new fabric for their quilts. After joining the Bee, Bettie never went back to using old, repurposed materials. She found new fabric much easier to sew with.