Questions about the history of quilts

[smileysangel]

Hello,
My son has to do a project on the history of the "Log Cabin" quilt. Does anyone know where we can find some good information concerning this? He needs to know the origin, the reason it got its name, who made the original and other interesting facts. I have found a few sites but nothing with good info.

Thanks so much for your help!

[CarolAnn]

There is a wonderful history on this pattern at this site:

http://www.womenfolk.com/quilt_pattern_history/logcabin.htm

It goes back to the Egyptian times! Who would have guessed that?! The site shows a couple of (ick) mummified cats and the pattern of their wrapping looks very much like the log cabin pattern.

Since he will probably need more than one source for his report, there are more sites:

http://quilting.suite101.com/article.cfm/easy_quilt_blocks_log_cabin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_quilting

One article said that although it there is no PROOF, there is an old story that log cabin pattern quilts were hung on the line of safe houses for runaway slaves before the civil war.

Another said that the dark and light patterns were an indication of the joy and sorrow of life.

Some of that may be true - or may not - but they're lovely stories, and it's a beautiful pattern!