Made in Alabama-A State Legacy

In 1994, the Birmingham Museum of Art showcased 

"MADE IN ALABAMA: A STATE LEGACY."

This brochure reads, " A landmark exhibition culminating a nine-year search throughout the state,  in both private and public collections for ceramics, coverlets, furniture, paintings, photographs, metals, and textiles that were made in the 19th century in Alabama."

On the inside of the brochure,  there is a picture of a woven coverlet made by Milittia Elizabeth Haynes Moon in 1875-1876. 

Milittia is pictured above in 1924. This picture shows five generations of her family in order of age: her father, William Dawson Haynes, Sr., Militia Haynes Moon, Lindsay Renfro Moon, Annie Paul Moon Rounds, Glenn Leroy Rounds, Jr.

Milittia Elizabeth Haynes Moon is my great-grandmother-Nancy Antoinette Haynes Weaver's sister. Milittia was born in 1854. Milittia was one of 9 children. Their parents were Lucretia Holland Pace and William Dawson Haynes.  W. D. Haynes fought in the Confederate States' Army in the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment. This unit was with the Army of Tennessee and was a part of the defense of Atlanta during the spring and summer of 1864. His regiment surrendered, and W. D. Haynes became a prisoner of war. 

There is definitely more to say about W. D. Haynes, but this week, we are looking at this brochure that features his daughter's coverlet. 

Names and dates above were found in this book.

The picture below is the inside of the brochure from the museum's exhibition. Militia's hand-woven coverlet is pictured as an example of coverlets woven in Alabama in the 19th century. 

The caption below the photograph reads, 

"Militia Elizabeth Haynes Moon (1854-1929), "American Centennial" Coverlet, Lineville, (Clay County), 1875-1876. Wool and cotton, 104 x 68 inches. Loaned by Mrs. Jack Sims."

I have retyped what is written below the photograph. 

ALABAMA HAND-WOVEN TEXTILES

Hand-woven textiles made on four-harness looms were commonplace in small Alabama households of the nineteenth century. From the looms, weavers produced towels, tablecloths, counterpanes and coverlets, sheets, carpets, and fabric that was made into clothing. Of all these woven textiles the coverlets seem to have best survived hard use, probably because they were not bleached when they were washed. Coverlets were made of dyed wool and cotton. Counterpanes were all-white, all-cotton, figured textiles. Long before home weavers selected a pattern and began weaving, however, they had a great deal of work to do. Most weavers grew there own cotton, picked it, seeded it, carded it to straighten the fibers, spun it into thread, and dyed the thread. The wool often came from the weavers' own sheep; it was then carded, spun into thread, and dyed. Everyone in the family, including the children, participated in the dreaded job of removing seeds from the cotton. Most of the weavers were women, although men and children knew the skill well.

Below is a picture of a hand-woven family coverlet or counterpane that I have. It is actually older than Milittia's coverlet in the brochure.  This counterpane was spun and woven in another branch of my family,  the C. S. Weaver branch. Now I know this is getting confusing... the Haynes-Moon branch is a part of Nancy Antoinette Haynes Weaver's branch of our family. 

Rebecca Wise Photography

Isn't it fascinating that because of a museum exhibit held in the 1990's, we can continue to learn a little bit more about our family history and about the state of Alabama? I also think it is interesting that Melittia's name underwent many different spelling variations over the generations. Scroll back up to the cover of the book, Dreadzil Evans Pace and Melita Leverett of Talladega County: Some Descendants by W. James Pace. There are several spelling changes to her name in the book, including the spelling on the cover. 

I am crazy about family names and how they are passed down through the generations. When I am reading about family ancestors, I get goose bumps when I see that a baby boy was named for his father's commanding officer in the Civil War, or five generations of girls that carry the same name. There is something slightly akin to "magic" about this. It makes a story become "real" and more understandable-the history becomes more alive, more of a story. 

Have a great week with this beautiful summertime weather, and come back and visit the Family Trails next week. We have two May birthdays of the Weaver children to celebrate. 

Love,
Mariellan