Making Do: Women and Work

Mrs. Mayme Reese
Housewife

Name:

Mrs. Mayme Reese

Birth:

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1881

Ethnicity:

African-American

Family:

Two married sons, one single son and one married daughter

Occupation:

Housewife

Location:

1 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York City

Date:

September 20, 1938

Interviewer:

Dorothy West

Interview Excerpt:

What kinds of things did you used to do when you got together with other women?

Listen to Mayme's response

Did you ever hear about quilting parties? We used to have quilting parties at least twice a year. One time we would meet at one house and one time at another; you'd keep on that way until the quilt was finished...

In the fall when they had the county fairs, sometimes we'd take our quilts out to fair-grounds for exhibition. Each lady picked out her best quilt -- the prettiest color, the prettiest pattern and the best stitches -- and took it to the fair to try to win the prize..No, it didn't make any difference if your prettiest quilt had been quilted by three or four other people. You see you already had the pattern and you'd already put the pieces together so that much was your own idea.

Transcript #25060506

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