Bringing Census Records to Life
Grandparent Card
These “grandparent cards” present census information in paragraph form to demonstrate the richness of census records. During the project, I uncovered a relative I knew little about, my great, great grandmother, Maggie Rogers, born in 1852.
Boro Stitched Booklet
I used Japanese boro stitching for this booklet to create layers of texture. I wanted something that evoked the feeling of a warm quilt.
Details such as homemade doll dresses and photographs are tucked inside handkerchief pockets.
A Folding Tower
A folding tower captures census information about the Floyds, the family of the grandmother who encouraged my sense of creativity. Since my grandmother grew up on a farm, I outfitted the Floyds in clothing made from seed packet designs found on the Library of Congress Website.
The folding tower includes a story about a Floyd family reunion. Reading that story brings back memories of hearing angelic voices harmonizing to jazz chords on the upright piano, seeing parked long cars with pointed fenders, and watching Aunts with cocked church hats carry hot buttered rolls and sweet potato pie into the house.