Estelle Witherspoon

Estelle Abrams Witherspoon (January 20, 1916 – December 24, 1998)[1] was an American artist, civil rights activist, and a founding member and longtime manager of the Freedom Quilting Bee. She is also associated with the Gee's Bend quilting group, alongside her mother, Willie "Ma Willie" Abrams.[2][3][4][5]

Biography

Estelle Witherspoon is the only daughter of “Ma” Willie Abrams. Estelle is one of the founding members, of the Freedom Quilting Bee, and was its spokesperson and manager since its inception. Estelle's extensive background in civil rights activism includes working to achieve voting rights, and later working as a poll worker. Furthermore, she participated in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, alongside Lucy Mingo.[6] She was also arrested in 1971 for participating in an un-permitted march for school desegregation.[3][7][8]

Exhibitions

  • "Living Legacies: Art of the African American South." Toledo Museum of Art. January 15th to May 1st, 2022.[3]
  • "Radical Tradition: American Quilts and Social Change." Toledo Museum of Art. November 21st, 2020 to February 14th, 2021.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Freedom Quilting Bee: Estelle Witherspoon Obituary". www.ruraldevelopment.org. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  2. ^ Callahan, Nancy (2005-04-17). The Freedom Quilting Bee: Folk Art and the Civil Rights Movement. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817352479.
  3. ^ a b c d "Estelle Witherspoon | Souls Grown Deep Foundation". www.soulsgrowndeep.org. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  4. ^ Glanton, Dahleen (1997-11-11). "NURTURED BY THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE ONCE-THRIVING FREEDOM QUILTING BEE NOW IS COMING APART AT THE SEAMS". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  5. ^ Callahan, Nancy (2015-04-24). "Freedom Quilting Bee". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  6. ^ Beardsley, John; Arnett, William; Arnett, Paul; Livingston, Jane (2002). Gee's Bend: The Women and Their Quilts. Tinwood Books. p. 33. ISBN 9780971910409.
  7. ^ Callahan, Nancy (1987). The Freedom Quilting Bee. Tuscaloosa, Ala: University of Alabama Press. pp. 217–218, 228, 231. ISBN 978-0-8173-0310-5.
  8. ^ Beardsley, John (2002). Gee's Bend: The WOmen and their Quilts. Tinwood Books Atlanta: Tinwood Books. ISBN 0-9719104-0-5.


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