Cobblestone Museum’s virtual lecture series starts with ‘graveyard quilts’ that honor deceased family members

Photos courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society: (Left) Right) This “Graveyard Quilt” crafted by Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell around 1843 to memorialize deceased family members will be the topic of the Cobblestone Society’s Virtual Lecture Series on Jan. 28. There is still time to register for the online presentation. (Right) Jennifer Downs, curator at the Kentucky Historical Society, will share history of a historic quilt housed there during the Cobblestone Society’s Virtual Lecture Series on Jan. 28.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 January 2025 at 9:14 am

CHILDS – Virtual Lecture Series have become a popular way for the public to support the Cobblestone Museum and enjoy programs, even when the museum is closed. They also make it possible for speakers to share their expertise on interesting subjects with members and friends of the museum, without having to travel, said Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the of the Cobblestone Museum.

Bonafini has announced the museum will host three monthly history-based virtual programs, via Zoom, beginning with a presentation at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 on Elizabeth Roseberry Mitchell’s “Graveyard Quilt.” Bonafini shares that this extraordinary textile was created by Mitchell and her daughters around 1843 to memorialize their deceased family members.

The quilt was designed with a graveyard in the center, bordered by a picket fence, trellis and climbing roses. It’s an unusual mourning quilt of this period because of the presence of coffins, both in the cemetery and around the perimeter of the quilt, Bonafini explained.  Additional coffins were incorporated with the intent of adding the names of new family members as they arrived.

Jennifer Downs, curator at the Kentucky Historical Society, where the quilt is housed, will share a program of the quilt’s history within the context of the 19th century Kentucky and Victorian mourning customs. Because of its fragility, the quilt is rarely shown to the public, Downs has explained.

Registration online and a donation are required to take part in the program, and will close soon, Bonafini said. PayPal and credit card payments are accepted, and all proceeds benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum.

Official sponsor of this program is Marie Bell, owner of Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Brockport.

Pat’s Auto Repair in Albion is the sponsor for the remaining two virtual programs.

For assistance or information, call (585) 589-9013 or watch the CobblestoneMuseum.org website to view full details of the February and March programs.

February’s program on the 27th at 7 p.m. will be “U.S. Grant & Civil Rights,” presented by Ben Kemp, operations manager of the U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site. This fitting program during Black History Month discusses subject matter that helps to highlight a very difficult but promising period of the Civil Rights struggle and Grant’s role in it, Bonafini said.

The March 20 presentation at 6:30 p.m. will feature Elizabeth Farrell, assistant director of Education and Public Programming at the Erie Canal Museum, who will share “Waterway of Change: Women and the Erie Canal. “ This celebrates the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal and Women’s History Month by joining the virtual audience for this presentation, according to Bonafini.

“Learn how the fight for women’s rights grew out of the changes brought about by the Erie Canal and the movement’s dependence on the networks that the canal facilitated,” Bonafini added.