the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Bridge Landing NJ, August 2019 marks the 400-year anniversary of the documented arrival of the first Africans arriving in colonial English America. Dr. Evelyn McDowell and Camile Amadio will discuss one of the women captives, Angela, and lead into a presentation about women, quilting, and slavery. We will briefly review the history of early colonial quilting and discuss the significance of quilting in the African-American community. We will end our talk with a discussion of the 400-year Commemoration Quilt Project currently underway and sponsored by Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. We will leave time for a hands-on demonstration of the block used for the commemorative quilting project. The talk begins at 1:30 pm in the Steuben House. The whole museum site is open for tours.
Bios:
Camile Amadio was born in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Rider University. She is a retired professional chef, married 48 years, and an award-winning, avid quilter. She won first place blue ribbons at the Peddlers Village Quilt Competition and the Mancuso Tristate Competition, third place in Newtown Quilters Quilt Show, and exhibited in the American Quilt Association International Show. She is a 2nd generation Italian-American and the granddaughter of immigrant textile workers. Camile is the ad hoc, Co-chair of the SDUSMP 400-year Commemoration Quilt Project.
Dr. Evelyn Aniton McDowell, Ph.D., is the President of the Board of Directors and a founder of Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. She is also an Associate Professor of Accounting at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She has traced her lineage to 38 people enslaved in the United States mainly from Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Princeton Chapter.
Tours in all three 18th century Jersey Dutch sandstone houses that are connected by an ADA gravel walking path through the historic battleground site. Walk across the 1889 Swing Bridge on the Hackensack River and watch for American Eagles and Redtail Hawks. Walking tour at the bridge, weather permitting. Don’t forget the New Bridge Donuts & cider (hot or cold) in the Tavern. Visit the Out-Kitchen as our cooks prepare seasonal 18th century recipes.
Some of the Society’s treasure of Revolutionary War artifacts are on display. The gift shop will be open. Historic New Bridge Landing, 1201 Main St, River Edge, NJ, BergenCountyHistory.org
400th Anniversary
Commemorating the First Documented Arrival of Africans in Colonial America
Sunday, March 24, 2019
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Isn’t it March?