Martha Jane Pettway facts for kids

Martha Jane Pettway (born 1898, died 2003) was a talented American artist. She was famous for her amazing quilts. Martha Jane belonged to a special group of quilters from a place called Gee's Bend, Alabama. She lived her whole life in Gee's Bend. Her beautiful quilts are now in important art museums. These include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A Leader in Her Community

Martha Jane Pettway and her husband, Little Pettway, were very important leaders. They spoke up for people's rights in Gee's Bend. They were the first family to get a "Roosevelt House." This was a special home provided by the government. They also convinced other families in Gee's Bend to join in New Deal projects. The New Deal was a plan by the U.S. government. It helped people during a tough economic time.

Helping Families Get Land

Little Pettway worked with the community. He helped break up large lands owned by people who weren't taking care of them. These lands were then given to families in Gee's Bend. This happened through a program called the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. Martha Jane and her family received 75 acres of land. This land included both swampy and dry areas.

Standing Up for Rights

Martha Jane often took her children and husband to marches. These marches were in Selma, Alabama. They were part of the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for African Americans.

A Family of Quilters

Martha Jane and Little Pettway raised fifteen children. They had five boys and ten girls. Martha Jane taught all of her daughters how to quilt. Many of them became excellent quilters. Some famous quilters from her family include Plummer T. Pettway and Joanna Pettway. Her daughter-in-law, Louella Pettway, was also a very skilled quilter.

Martha Jane lived a very long life. She was 103 years old when she passed away. She spent her later years living in Mobile, Alabama.

Her Amazing Quilts

Martha Jane's quilts were very important for her children. They provided comfort and warmth in their home. Most of her quilts were made from old work clothes. This was a way to reuse materials.

Quilts for a Big Family

Because her family was so large, the quilts were used a lot. Most of her and her daughters' quilts would only last about a year. This is why it was so important for all her daughters to learn quilting. They needed to make new quilts to keep the family warm. Martha Jane's son, Nathan, remembers sleeping under his sisters' quilts even when he was an adult.