The Midwives' Quilt: A Tale of Conflict and Intrigue in the Smoky Mountains | A Brown Bag Lecture with Dr. Gail Palmer

Gail Palmer’s latest novel, The Midwives’ Quilt, explores the experiences of four midwives in the Smokies. Palmer will give a short reading from the book and discuss a handmade quilt symbolizing plants and animals thought by midwives to have healing properties. She will also describe the history of women serving as healers and how the transition to an urban, industrial society forever changed the lives of midwives and mountain people. Palmer, who holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies from the University of Tennessee, is the author of four books and the winner of an ETHS Award of Excellence for community history.

The program is sponsored by the Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel and is free and open to the public.  The lecture will begin at noon at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville.  Guests are invited to bring a “Brown Bag” lunch and enjoy the lecture. Soft drinks will be available.  For more information on the lecture, exhibitions, or museum hours, call 865-215-8824.