100 Quilts Celebrate 100 Years of Black History at Chesapeake Library

Quilts by local African American artists showcase community stories and military heritage.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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To mark the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, the Chesapeake Central Library is hosting an exhibit of 100 quilts created by members of the African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild. The quilts tell stories of African American culture, history, and resistance, including a tribute quilt by Bobbie Moore that honors her family's multi-generational military service dating back to World War I.

Why it matters

Quilting has long been an important artistic tradition in the Black community, often used to preserve and share stories, history, and cultural identity. This exhibit celebrates that legacy while also highlighting how quilts can be powerful tools for documenting and commemorating African American experiences, from military service to the fight for civil rights.

The details

The 100-quilt exhibit at the Chesapeake Central Library features works by members of the African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild. One of the quilts, created by Bobbie Moore, traces her family's military heritage, incorporating photos and fabrics from different military branches to represent the more than 35 relatives she discovered had served dating back to World War I. Other quilts in the exhibit showcase traditional African fabrics and imagery, as well as themes of Black resistance and the Underground Railroad.

  • The exhibit opened on February 1, 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
  • Bobbie Moore spent approximately two years researching her family's military history to create her tribute quilt.

The players

Bobbie Moore

A member of the African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild who created a quilt honoring her family's multi-generational military service.

Janice Johnson

The president of the African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild, which organized the 100-quilt exhibit at the Chesapeake Central Library.

African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild

A group of quilters in the Hampton Roads area who create works celebrating African American culture, history, and resistance.

Chesapeake Central Library

The library hosting the 100-quilt exhibit to mark the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.

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What they’re saying

“Quilts traditionally being for comfort and covering, but we took it to another level.”

— Janice Johnson, President, African American "Sew"-cial Threaders Guild (13newsnow.com)

“People look at it, and they go, 'Oh that's a lot of people.' I go, 'No, those are my people.'”

— Bobbie Moore (13newsnow.com)

What’s next

The exhibit at the Chesapeake Central Library will run through the end of Black History Month in February 2026.

The takeaway

This quilting exhibit showcases how the artistic tradition of quilting has long been used in the Black community to preserve and share stories, history, and cultural identity. The works on display celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month by highlighting themes of resistance, military service, and the ongoing fight for civil rights.