Cuesta Benberry facts for kids
Cuesta Benberry (born September 8, 1923 – died August 23, 2007) was an American historian and scholar. She was a pioneer in studying quiltmaking in America, especially African-American quilts. She helped start many quilt groups and wrote articles for popular quilt magazines. Cuesta Benberry also collected many important quilts and documents about quilting history.
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About Cuesta Benberry
Cuesta Ray Benberry was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She studied education and later library science at university. She worked as a teacher in St. Louis schools for 40 years before retiring in 1985. She married George L. Benberry in 1951.
Cuesta became interested in quilts after visiting her husband's family in Kentucky. She didn't want to make quilts herself, but she loved to study them. She focused on the people who made quilts, especially African-American quilters. Her work greatly advanced quilt research.
In the early 1970s, Benberry started writing for Nimble Needle Treasures magazine. Later, she wrote for Quilter's Newsletter, which was the only magazine of its kind then.
Cuesta Benberry passed away on August 23, 2007, at 83 years old. She left behind her husband, son, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Her Important Research
Cuesta Benberry's background in teaching and library science helped her become a great quilt historian. She knew how to teach and how to find information.
Her interest in quilts began with her husband's family traditions. She was amazed by how important quilts were in people's lives. She said quilts are "part of our lives, and they give us so many memories." This emotional connection made her want to learn more about quilt history in America.
Focus on African-American Quilts
Benberry soon focused her research on African-American quiltmaking. Not much research had been done on this topic before. She interviewed African-American quilters and gathered information about quilts made by enslaved people. She also learned about their thoughts on the role of African-American quilters in history.
Benberry challenged old ideas that said African-American quilts could only be identified by one visual style. Her research showed many different techniques used in these quilts.
She believed that three main events helped increase interest in African-American quiltmaking:
- Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt was shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Gladys-Marie Fry wrote an essay about Harriet Powers.
- Roland Freeman organized the "More Than Just Something to Keep You Warm" quilt exhibition in Mississippi.
How She Researched
Cuesta Benberry kept very detailed notes, files, and letters during her research. These documents are now used by others studying quilts.
She used resources in St. Louis to start her work. She visited local libraries and discovered that St. Louis was a center for making needlework supplies. This led her to study the business side of quiltmaking.
To understand quiltmaking from a quilter's point of view, Benberry joined quilt groups. Even though she didn't make quilts, members would send her finished blocks. This helped her see what they looked like. She made many friends and found a network of people who also loved studying quilt history.
One friend, Delores Hinson, encouraged Benberry to research quilt designs even more. She also told Benberry to publish her findings.
In 1986, Benberry traveled to England to work with the Zamani Soweto Council. This group of black South African women learned quilting skills to become financially independent. When Benberry returned to the U.S., she gave talks about the Zamani Soweto Council. She helped bring attention to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
Her Lasting Legacy
Cuesta Benberry is most known for her writings about the many contributions of African-Americans to quilting. Some of her important books and articles include:
- Always There: The African-American Presence in American Quilts (1992)
- Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans (2000)
- 20th Century Quilts 1900-1970: Women Make Their Mark (1997)
- "Afro-American Women and Quilts: An Introductory Essay" (1980)
She also wrote introductions for other quilt history books.
Benberry was honored for her work. She was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in 1983. She also helped start two important groups: the American Quilt Study Group and the Women of Color Quilter's Network.
Benberry's Collection
In 2009, the Michigan State University Museum received Cuesta Benberry's large collection. It included many items related to American and African-American quilt history.
Her collection contained:
- 52 quilts from her own collection
- Over 100 quilt kits
- Many research files on African-American history, artists, museums, and quiltmaking
- Files with articles, newspaper clippings, photos, and letters about quiltmaking
Benberry's collection shows how hard she worked to explore all parts of African-American quiltmaking. It also shows how these quilts fit into American history and politics.
Exhibits She Curated
Cuesta Benberry also helped organize several quilt exhibitions:
- May 12–16, 1993: "Always There: The African-American Presence in American Quilts" at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
- 1991: "Hear My Quilt" at the St. Louis Art Museum.
- 1970: "20th Century Quilts: 1900-1970: Women Make Their Mark" at the Museum of American Quilter's Society in Kentucky.
She also worked as a consultant for the Old State House Museum in Arkansas.
