Eric Williams stated there are a number of historic narratives on how the “Chalice Quilt” was introduced to Great Britain.
TEXAS, USA — The “Chalice Quilt” has been on show on the American Museum and Gardens in Britain for 40 years, however a Dallas man is on a mission to deliver it again to its residence in East Texas.
“It was only until now that I started doing my slave research and ancestry and put together a film on slave ancestors that I uncovered through Harrison County research books that this particular quilt was manufactured by my family,” stated Eric Williams, a filmmaker and political activist.
Williams’ created a documentary referred to as “Finding Miriam,” which highlights the journey of his previously enslaved ancestors, together with his great-great grandmother Miriam Williams.
“They manufactured all of the sleeping items,” he stated. “The quilts, everything dealing with cotton was manufactured by my ancestors and others on the slave plantation on Mimosa Hall during the 1800s.”
Williams stated there are a number of historic narratives on how the “Chalice Quilt” was introduced to Great Britain, however all of them appear to level to one factor.
“We believe it was stolen,” he stated. “It was taken and it needs to be brought back.”
Williams has been working with Councilwoman Shirley McKellar of Tyler, and neighborhood leaders throughout the state, who wrote letters to King Charles III demanding its launch.
It’s a difficulty they introduced to Houston’s British Consulate, hoping to deliver larger consciousness.
“What that quilt actually also means is that our ancestors worked to give messages and information to others that were enslaved so that one day they could be freed,” stated McKellar. “That quilt absolutely does not mean to the British people what it means here in East Texas.”
Williams stated the Museum has since ceased licensing the piece and has pulled it off show however has but to agree to its launch again to his household.
“The only resistance that we’re getting is from overseas, not here,” he stated. “We’re getting a lot of support to getting this quilt back.”
Williams stated he’s hoping to have the quilt returned to Texas and moved to a museum in Washington, D.C.
KHOU 11 reached out to the American Museum and Gardens in Britain and didn’t hear again.
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