By April 1895, Harriet Powers sold her Bible Quilt to Jennie Smith for $5.
In April 1895, Harriet Powers sold her renowned "Bible Quilt" to Jennie Smith for the sum of five dollars. This transaction was bittersweet for Powers, who recognized the necessity of parting with a piece of her cultural legacy for financial reasons. The quilt's intricate designs and storytelling elements encapsulated Powers's unique artistic vision and ensured its preservation. Eventually, the quilt would find a lasting home in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where it was heralded as an essential piece of African American and American cultural heritage.