Reviews
Deanna Allred, Journal of American Folklore, Winter 2026: “Smucker drew a compelling comparison between the nation’s reaction to the New Deal in the 1930s and the responses of both the US government and its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic—a connection my students and I will continue to think and write about…. the book’s images depicting women in communities richly connected to quiltmaking strongly illustrate the benefits of quilt studies for folklorists and scholars.”
Kathleen Daly, H-Material Culture, Dec. 2024: “The gems of the study emerge when Smucker illuminates the stories behind the quilters; in particular, how women felt about their work as personal and creative expression…. One of the book’s greatest contributions may be its rich detail about everyday life during the Depression, particularly for ordinary American women. As such, it adds complexity to understandings of the Depression as a deeply gendered experience.”
Virginia Gardner Troy, Journal of Southern History, 90, n. 4 (Nov 2024): “From quilt aficionados to textile historians and researchers of American history, this scholarly yet accessible book is a welcome addition to the study of
American crafts and government-sponsored arts programs in the 1930s.”
Nancy Adair, The Literate Quilter, Feb 8, 2024: “I learned so much from this book.”
Joe Cunningham, A New Deal Book Review, Jan 17, 2024: “My review of my favorite recent book on quilts…”
Scott Borchert, “Book Review: A New Deal for Quilts,” April 23, 2024, Living New Deal: “Smucker’s clear prose and expert knowledge, combined with the book’s sumptuous visual design—featuring many striking black and white photographs from the 1930s alongside full color images of the quilts themselves—make this an exceptional contribution to the study of the New Deal.”
