Professor Explains the Quilt in Literary Context
April 04, 2023
Professor Explains the Quilt in Literary Context
The chairperson of the Department of English and Foreign Languages recently gave a
lecture presentation on "Quilts and Literature" at Huntsville Madison County Library.
Sponsored by the Library and the Huntsville Historic Foundation, Dr. Charlotte C.
Teague's lecture dealt with "Women (W)Righting Alabama: Celebrating the Quilt in Literary Contexts."
The Huntsville Historic Foundation purchased a quilt from local quilter, Tiavalya Befecadu (right), with the idea that the quilt should be featured for art and education throughout the city and state, since it featured
six famous Alabama women writers: Margaret Walker, Sonia Sanchez, Harper Lee, Yaa Gyasi, Zora Neale Hurston and Fannie Flagg. Teague was invited to lecture on the Alabama women authors, and the talk featured
their most famous works and Alabama ties.
Closing out the session, Teague displayed a quilt from her grandmother (below)—discussing the quilting legacy in her family, which began on General Joe Wheeler's Plantation in Lawrence
County.
The lecture coordinators plan to bring Befecadu's Alabama Author's quilt to Alabama A&M next year for presentation and programming. Tiavalya is the daughter of retired English Professor Vertricia Jefferson, and she
is the wife of alumnus Ephraim Joe Befecadu.