Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria

This illustrated in full color children's book is the true story of Martha Ann Ricks, an ex-slave who spent fifty years saving spare coins to fulfill her dream of meeting the Queen of England. After Martha Ann's father finally saves enough money to purchase her freedom from slavery, the family leaves east Tennessee to begin a new life in Liberia. On market days, Martha Ann watches the British navy patrolling the Liberian coast to stop slave merchants from kidnapping her family and friends and forcing them back into slavery. Martha Ann decides to thank Queen Victoria in person for sending HMS ships. But first, she must determine how to make the 3,500 England, find a suitable gift for the Queen, and withstand the ridicule of family and friends who learn of her impossible dream

Children's Literature

In this unique, true story, Martha Ann Erskine, born a slave on the Doherty Plantation in eastern Tennessee in about 1817, moves to Liberia in 1830 when her father, a minister, finally saves enough money to purchase the family's freedom. Martha Ann's greatest wish is to go to school, learn to read, and make her family proud. Not only do Martha Ann and her siblings get to attend school in Liberia, but at home, their mother teaches them to sew clothes and quilts. Tragedy strikes, however, when African Fever sweeps through town, killing Papa, Mama, Grandma, and Martha Ann's sisters. Wallace, her oldest brother, takes care of Martha Ann and her younger brother, Hopkins, until Martha Ann marries Sion Harris. As a result of observing British ships patrolling the coast to stop slave catchers from kidnapping more Africans, Martha Ann determines to pay Queen Victoria a visit 3,500 miles away to thank her for protecting the African people. She teaches school at the mission and later farms her own land to make a living. Despite civil strife and the death of Sion, and later her second husband, Henry, Martha Ann continues to save her money to visit the queen. When Mrs. Jane Roberts, the wife of Liberia's first president, pays a surprise visit to Martha Ann after hearing about the exquisite quilt she is making for Queen Victoria, Mrs. Roberts contacts the Liberian Ambassador in London to facilitate the visit. At the age of 76, Martha Ann finally gets her wish, meeting not only the Queen, but Prince Edward and his family as well. Kyra Hicks' text in this picture book outshines Fodi's illustrations, which depict too little variation in the facial features of the characters and add little to the story.Despite this weakness, this is an important story for young readers to know, especially because it serves to illustrate that contemporary African American quilters like Faith Ringgold and Kyra Hicks herself benefit from a long tradition of black folk artists.

Kyra E. Hicks is a quilter, just like Martha Ann. Kyra's quilts have appeared in more than thirty exhibits in the United States and abroad. She loves historical research and rediscovering the lives of quilters past. She is the author of Black Threads: An African American Quilting Sourcebook. Kyra lives in Arlington, Virginia, where she tends her colorful, fragrant rose garden.