A Piece of My Soul: A Review

Of all the quilt books in publication, I am most partial to A Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans by noted quilt historian Cuesta Benberry. Although my grandmother Clara Ford is not featured in the book, Jessie Jones, a quilter from my home town of Crossett, Arkansas, is featured.

The cover of the book is beautifully done, and invokes a feeling of peace each time I look at it. Most of the beautiful quilts inside are housed at the Arkansas State House Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. The quilts date from the 1890’s to the 1980’s. The styles are eclectic as they should be.

This book represents an important documentation of African American quilts, and records forever their importance in history. The book treats the quilts and the quilters with the respect and reverence they deserve.

This book should be part of the library of all quilters.