Kept in museum storage since 1989, a beautiful quilt held the key to unravelling the forgotten story of Ziller Smith, a Black woman who moved from Missouri to Oregon around 1900. Until the quilt's rediscovery in 2024, Ziller’s life had been omitted from the historical record.

Join us on September 18th at 5:30 PM at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum for a talk by Executive Director Christopher Melton. He will share the steps he took to trace the history of the quilt, uncover evidence of its maker, and imagine what Ziller’s life might have been like in early 20th-century Oregon.

An exhibit highlighting the quilt will be on view in the Anne Hall Gallery on the museum’s second floor from September 18th 2025, through March 2026.

This project was made possible with the support of Oregon Black Pioneers.

Doors at 5PM, talk begins at 5:30PM with Q&A to follow.