1885 - 1886 Harriet Powers's Bible Quilt

Harriet Powers, an African American farm woman from Georgia, made a Bible quilt around 1886. The quilt features eleven panels depicting biblical scenes, including Adam and Eve, Cain killing Abel, Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, and the Last Supper. The quilt was exhibited at the Athens Cotton Fair in 1886, where it caught the attention of artist Jennie Smith. After a series of transactions, Jennie finally purchased the quilt for $5 from Harriet.