“By the Grandchildren” Exhibit

ByStaff-2

“By the Grandchildren,” opens May 2026.

This exhibit is Old Church Gallery’s contribution to commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The exhibit title is based upon this excerpt of a letter John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail in 1780: 

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”

Among the artifacts from our permanent collections are many that were created by descendants of Revolutionary era ancestors – those who came to the area as a direct result of the American Revolution. Some of these ancestors were awarded land grants for their military service. Others, including a large contingent of German-American settlers, came to what is now Floyd County after the territory, formerly reserved for Native Americans, was opened to European-American settlement. Just as John Adams had imagined, families prospered and their children’s children found time for creating books, music, craft, and art.

Visitors to Old Church Gallery will find more than thirty handcrafted artifacts–quilts, sound recordings, books, baskets, furniture, etc.–displayed with special tags naming the makers and their known Revolutionary ancestors. 

Also on exhibit are two extraordinary examples of county needlework done in honor of the nation’s 200th anniversary in 1976. Mrs. Elzada Boothe’s Bicentennial quilt features embroidered and appliqued patriotic symbols. Mrs. Effie K. Brown’s collection of historical quilt block patterns represents many hours of researching and hand-piecing intricate patterns. 

Quilt made for the Bicentennial by Louisa Elzada Williams Boothe. To create this quilt, Elzada purchased iron-on transfers as patterns. She used red and white cotton for patriotic symbols and arranged them on a blue background. There are thirty-six blocks depicting maps, leaders, flags, buildings, and events key to U.S. history surrounding a larger central block featuring the Bicentennial logo. The blocks are framed with pieced red and white-striped sashing and blue corner squares. The appliqueing was done by hand with some blocks also requiring a variety of embroidery stitches. this quilt has been registered with the National Quilters Association as well as the Virginia Consortium of Quilters.

Beginning in May, the Old Church Gallery will welcome visitors on Fridays (1:00 to 4:00) and Saturdays (11:00 to 2:00) through December 20, 2026. Admission is free. Visit our exhibits and permanent collections at the Gallery House, 110 Wilson Street, Floyd.