Civil War Women. Their Quilts, Their Roles & Activities for Re-Enactors

by Barbara Brackman

Book Overview

Important Note about PRINT ON DEMAND Editions: You are purchasing a print on demand edition of this book. This book is printed individually on uncoated (non-glossy) paper with the best quality... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571201041
• ISBN13: 9781571201041
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: C&T Publishing
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.6" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Patterns were less interesting than I hoped

Painfully biased, as was her first book - all but one of the stories are about Union sympathizers - as is to be expected from this author. Her first book was the same. The stories are nevertheless interesting and compelling, but I bought it looking for good era patterns for bed quilts. Everything she patterns is either applique or spiky and filled with HST, and most are small.

A treat

For an excellent review of this book, please see that of seasidewanderer (below). I agree wholeheartedly with his/her comments. The suggested activities for civilian women at living history events are creative and refreshing. However, I was disappointed with the quilting projects. Most are "inspired" by quilts of the Civil War era, but the finished projects look nothing like the originals. Original quilts are so beautiful with handwork, but this is not reflected with the modern applique used on the book's projects.

Interesting mini bios, lots of living history ideas

For those interested in learning more about the various roles that women played in the Civil War, this book is a terrific starting point. For those interested in ideas of civilian living history activities, this book has some great ideas for women Civil War reenactors who want to do more than sit under the tent fly until their man returns from battle. For those interested in making a quilt inspired by old-fashioned patterns, this book contains some beautiful projects and good instructions. For those interested in faithfully recreating historically accurate quilts, this book is not for you.After reading Barbara Brackman's wonderful "Quilts from the Civil War," I anxiously awaited "Civil War Women"--expecting another book on recreating historic quilts. Ultimately, I appreciated "Civil War Women" for what it was--a book containing interesting stories about the lives of women abolitionists, newspaper reporters, spies, plantation wives, nurses, government clerks, refugees and soldiers' wives. In the book's nine chapters, Brackman focuses on describing the life of one women from each group, and then discusses others in these roles. Numerous photographs and engravings help take the reader back to the 1860s.I especially loved the suggested activities for reenactors: a quilting bee, giving a stump speech, collecting signatures for an album quilt, smuggling contraband, staging a bazaar, to name a few. Brackman reprints a speech given by Amelia Bloomer and excerpts diaries discussing quilting bees and fairs, which help to provide primary sources for these activities. Even those not involved in living history might be inspired to try some of these activities for a different old-fashioned party. For a book with a quilt on its cover that primarily has been marketed in quilt shops, however, the paucity of original quilts was disappointing. Of the 30-some quilts depicted in "Civil War Women," only a quarter are originals. And although Brackman describes the project quilts as being inspired by originals, in many cases, she does not depict the originals so that the quilter interested in authenticity can determine where accuracy left off and inspiration took over. Unlike the reproduction quilts in "Quilts of the Civil War," which many times appeared very similar to the originals, these quilts just don't quite look like other historic quilts that I have seen from the period. Had this book not clearly targeted reenactors, I would not complain about the quilts. But for those involved in living history for the sake of public education rather than because they like "theme camping," authenticity is important, and the suggestion that reenactors can create good reproduction quilts by relying merely on this book does a disservice.

Re-enactor's delight

This book contains 9 projects adapted from period quilts. These are linked rather whimsically to 9 women of the period. There is no evidence that the women profiled actually made quilts like these or, in fact, ever made any quilts at all. Ms. Brackman has used a little creative journalism, what the TV people like to call the docu-drama approach, to connect nine women who represent particular types and quilts that women like them were making. If your love is for historical trivia, about women or the Civil War period, you will likely find this book fascinating. Each chapter ends with a series of activities which could be used by re-enactors or by history teachers. There are numerous etchings and photographs of the period.  

This should be required HS history reading!

Where was Barbara Brackman when I was studying history in school? She has brought real women of history into our living rooms, introducing us to the most intimate of their thoughts and actions during the Civil War, each unique in her own role. But she doesn't stop there. For Civil War reenactors, she goes on to build on the historical facts to suggest activities in order to walk in these women's footsteps. And for quilters, she provides patterns of quilts of the era. This book is a must for anyone learning about women's roles in the Civil War, for Civil War reenactors, for quilters fond of old patterns, and generally for almost any history buff. Brackman has successfully spanned the line between quilter and historian in a way that her peers and even Brackman herself have not done before.

A Must For the Lady Reenactor

I want to meet Barbara Brackman, the author of this beautifully put together quilting/history volume. So many books for reenactors are one dimensional, but Civil War Women is multimedia like in its approach. Each chapter tells the story of a real Civil War era woman to give you a feel for historical setting. Then she presents a historically inspired quilt that she feels would be the type of quilt that woman could have quilted. There are directions for these quilts which are mostly appliqued. Then she offers a suggested activity for a lady reenactor. The color plates in this volume are clear and breathtaking and there are many black and white historical photos that I found instructional. I learned many new things, such as an explanation for the bloomer reform dress, that caused me to consider impersonations that I had not thought about before. I have heard some local ladies criticize the author's selection of quilts as being too Union--but I personally found their designs refreshing and a nice alternative to Baltimore album quilts. The quilts that are my favorites are: Tobacco Worm, Seven Sisters and Democrat Rose. I enjoyed reading about Lucy Stone and her "poodle" husband. I am currently musing over the reenactor activity suggestions. The womens' rights orator and the letter writer both seem creative and do-able impressions that could be accomplished by a single reenactor. I really believe that this volume would be a great candidate for a companion CD that could have some video how to's and print outs of quilt patterns.