JT Peoples WWI Registration Card
As an adult, JT chose farming as his profession, establishing himself in the local community. His work ethic and dedication were defining features that carried him through the highs and lows of farm life. While the 1947 lawsuit lists JT Peoples as the father of Henry, Willis, and Mary, the 1950 census identifies both Willie and Mary as his great-grandchildren, suggesting that he played a guiding role in the lives of younger family members. Over the years, Joseph’s legacy has been preserved through historical documents that reflect his contributions and character each adding a layer to the story of his life.
JT Peoples WWI Draft Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Alcohol Bottle
Although a somber subject, Frances felt it was important to recognize the impact of alcohol use disorder within the family’s history. She insisted on including it as a small but significant element on the quilt, ensuring it did not overshadow the broader narrative while acknowledging its place in their shared story. Frances McKinney remembered the presence of struggles with mental health and alcohol abuse as constant battles many of the family members had to face. The presence of the Bourbon bottle served as a sign of the lack of resources available to help African Americans who might have been struggling with their mental health or alcohol abuse. Just as her educational journey proved, Frances McKinney was resilient because she could overlook the negative experiences associated with her family and alcohol, and had a positive outlook on life that created a healthy environment for her four children.
Potatoes
J.T. Peoples started the family farm in Pulaski, Virginia, where his legacy of the family farm continued through multiple generations. Some of the many things grown on the Peoples family farm were Green Beans and Potatoes, which are displayed in the top left of the quilt block, along with a Steel Rake similar to one the family would have used on the farm. The fabric used in this section of the quilt square details light golden and pink flowers to represent the farmland, its beauty, and all it gave to the family.
Okemia’s Quilting Fabric
The Quilt Fabric at the bottom center of this block is from Okemia “Kim” Peoples Holiday, an avid quilter and the daughter of Rev. Frances McKinney. The inclusion of fabric from Okemia's personal collection of quilting materials was purposefully meant to to pay tribute to the quilters within the Peoples family, and how Black women as quilters in Appalachia have changed and influenced the art of quilting. The legacy of quilting among the 23/54 families have inspired the 23/54 quilting project. It was community members like Okemia Peoples Holiday who carried traditions and created art in the form of quilting who led the 23/54 project in the direction of creating a quilt as a monument.
Music Note
The music tradition, specifically singing, was passed through multiple generations of the Peoples family. Frances McKinney remembers stories of her uncle, Billy Douglass Peoples, gathering some friends, and they would sing gospel music on the back porch of her childhood home. McKinney also fondly remembers her mother singing throughout the house while doing various activities. Particularly in Appalachia, singing and music in general have deep cultural roots in African American communities within the mountains, creating a space where many Black Appalachians passed down their stories to future generations. Many families in the 1947 lawsuit had deep connections to music, particularly gospel music, which often symbolized unity for Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement. Both Ruth and Billy Douglass Peoples used music to foster community and unity, and the passing of stories down to the next generation of the Peoples family created positive memories for Frances McKinney as she recalled the presence of music in her family.
Named Participant List
Henry H. Peoples, Willis F. Peoples, Mary E. Peoples infants by J.T. Peoples, their father and next friend,"
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
This quilt block features an image honoring the Peoples family members who participated in the lawsuit. While Frances recalls limited information about these individuals, their inclusion is vital to commemorating their bravery and the lasting impact of their actions. By highlighting their contributions, this piece serves as a tribute to their courage and a recognition of the legacy they helped shape for future generations.
Ruth Lee Peoples Recipe Card
To represent the family’s baking traditions, a copy of Ruth’s “deep chocolate cherry cake” recipe was included on the People’s quilt square. Hand-written by Ruth Peoples herself, this was one of the many family recipes that remain important to the family. The recipe on the quilt is another example of Frances McKinney's positive association with her mother and baking.
Recipe Card (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Click here to watch
NAACP Voting Ballot Box & Telephone
Ruth Peoples emphasized exercising the right to vote by managing a telephone where people would call in and ask for a ride to the polls to vote. Every election for multiple years, Ruth Peoples answered the phone for many community members in need of a ride to the voting polls, no matter friend, family, or stranger. The significance of the NAACP being written across the ballot box stems from Ruth's commitment to working with the NAACP and the Black community, seeing the NAACP as their voice. Ruth Peoples was a person committed to fighting racial injustice on multiple fronts, from her services driving people to vote, her legal battles involving her children, in which she attempted to work with the NAACP, and her attempts to attend Civil Rights marches, including the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in Washington D.C.
Hoe Cake
A specific recipe Frances McKinney remembers being prominent in their family was a type of cake they called “Hoe Cake”. Her mother Ruth Peoples had a lot of different cakes and breads she would bake, such as Lemon Cake and Black Forest Cake, but the one that stuck out in Frances McKinney’s memories the most was the Hoecake bread her mother would make, which consisted of milk, flour, water, and butter. Learning by watching, Frances McKinney picked up on making the delicious dessert and continues to make it to this day. Hoecake, bread, and baking bring back many positive memories from her childhood and her mother.
Hoe Cake (courtesy of Mommy's Kitchen and Homestead)
Ruth Peoples
Ruth Lee Peoples, mother of Frances McKinney, raised seven children as a single mother. She worked as a housekeeper and diligently provided for her children despite the challenges of single parenthood. Remembered for the sacrifices she made for her family, her photo, displayed in the middle of the Peoples family quilt square, signifies how she was the glue that held the family together.
Ruth Peoples (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Frances McKinney High School Yearbook Photo from 1973
Taken from her 1973 yearbook, Frances McKinney’s photo is prominently displayed on the top right of the quilt block. With all the help, sacrifices, and contributions Frances McKinney has made for her children, her community, and the 23/54 project, displaying her photo in such a manner felt necessary and correct. Her character consistently demonstrates resilience, compassion, and selflessness as she perseveres in her educational journey despite numerous obstacles and sacrifices made for her four children.
Frances McKinney (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Click here to watch
New River Community College
Frances attended the Calfee Training School from the 2nd to 4th grades, where she encountered difficulties with material and, to her, "teachers who lacked compassion." As Frances' journey through education was not linear, she reflects more positively on her educational experiences later on in adolescence with teachers “who went the extra mile." In her adult life, Frances became the first in her family to attend college, earning a degree in Human Services. Her achievement set a transformative example for her four children, who also pursued higher education. This image symbolizes a new generation of learners inspired by Frances's trailblazing path.
New River Communnity College Sign (courtesy of the Roanoke Times)
Poppy
Julius Peoples served during World War I, in an unknown branch of service. In an effort to commemorate his time during the First World War, a poppy was placed on the right side of the quilt square. Poppies became synonymous with Armistice Day, the day the Armistice that officially ended World War I was signed, to remember all those who fought and died during the war. Poppies were also a common sight along the Western front lines during the war, popping up amongst the land torn by heavy machinery, trenches, and fighting. Commonly used to remember the First World War and all of those who served during it, the inclusion of the poppy into the quilt block was made to honor Julius Peoples and the sacrifices he made by fighting in the war.
Thurgood Marshall
Along with the many discussions surrounding voting and civil rights in general that Ruth Peoples emphasized in their home, Thurgood Marshall. Marshall was among the prominent African American legal representatives, including Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson, who took on the fight for the Calfee Training School and Black residents of Pulaski in their legal effort to equalize educational facilities and wages. While attending a Black teachers' education convention in Hampton, Virginia, Chauncy D. Harmon, a teacher and then later principal of the Calfee Training School, spoke with Thurgood Marshall and convinced him to take on Calfee’s legal fight for equal access to education. Thurgood Marshall’s involvement in the case that multiple generations of the Peoples family signed onto cemented his name as a common one spoken by Ruth Peoples and other family members.
Thurgood Marshall (courtesy of Bowie State University Library)
NAACP Voting Ballot Box & Telephone
Ruth Peoples emphasized exercising the right to vote by managing a telephone where people would call in and ask for a ride to the polls to vote. Every election for multiple years, Ruth Peoples answered the phone for many community members in need of a ride to the voting polls, no matter friend, family, or stranger. The significance of the NAACP being written across the ballot box stems from Ruth's commitment to working with the NAACP and the Black community, seeing the NAACP as their voice. Ruth Peoples was a person committed to fighting racial injustice on multiple fronts, from her services driving people to vote, her legal battles involving her children, in which she attempted to work with the NAACP, and her attempts to attend Civil Rights marches, including the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in Washington D.C.
Peoples
Jamie Raczynski
Created on June 18, 2025
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Transcript
JT Peoples WWI Registration Card
As an adult, JT chose farming as his profession, establishing himself in the local community. His work ethic and dedication were defining features that carried him through the highs and lows of farm life. While the 1947 lawsuit lists JT Peoples as the father of Henry, Willis, and Mary, the 1950 census identifies both Willie and Mary as his great-grandchildren, suggesting that he played a guiding role in the lives of younger family members. Over the years, Joseph’s legacy has been preserved through historical documents that reflect his contributions and character each adding a layer to the story of his life.
JT Peoples WWI Draft Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Alcohol Bottle
Although a somber subject, Frances felt it was important to recognize the impact of alcohol use disorder within the family’s history. She insisted on including it as a small but significant element on the quilt, ensuring it did not overshadow the broader narrative while acknowledging its place in their shared story. Frances McKinney remembered the presence of struggles with mental health and alcohol abuse as constant battles many of the family members had to face. The presence of the Bourbon bottle served as a sign of the lack of resources available to help African Americans who might have been struggling with their mental health or alcohol abuse. Just as her educational journey proved, Frances McKinney was resilient because she could overlook the negative experiences associated with her family and alcohol, and had a positive outlook on life that created a healthy environment for her four children.
Potatoes
J.T. Peoples started the family farm in Pulaski, Virginia, where his legacy of the family farm continued through multiple generations. Some of the many things grown on the Peoples family farm were Green Beans and Potatoes, which are displayed in the top left of the quilt block, along with a Steel Rake similar to one the family would have used on the farm. The fabric used in this section of the quilt square details light golden and pink flowers to represent the farmland, its beauty, and all it gave to the family.
Okemia’s Quilting Fabric
The Quilt Fabric at the bottom center of this block is from Okemia “Kim” Peoples Holiday, an avid quilter and the daughter of Rev. Frances McKinney. The inclusion of fabric from Okemia's personal collection of quilting materials was purposefully meant to to pay tribute to the quilters within the Peoples family, and how Black women as quilters in Appalachia have changed and influenced the art of quilting. The legacy of quilting among the 23/54 families have inspired the 23/54 quilting project. It was community members like Okemia Peoples Holiday who carried traditions and created art in the form of quilting who led the 23/54 project in the direction of creating a quilt as a monument.
Music Note
The music tradition, specifically singing, was passed through multiple generations of the Peoples family. Frances McKinney remembers stories of her uncle, Billy Douglass Peoples, gathering some friends, and they would sing gospel music on the back porch of her childhood home. McKinney also fondly remembers her mother singing throughout the house while doing various activities. Particularly in Appalachia, singing and music in general have deep cultural roots in African American communities within the mountains, creating a space where many Black Appalachians passed down their stories to future generations. Many families in the 1947 lawsuit had deep connections to music, particularly gospel music, which often symbolized unity for Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement. Both Ruth and Billy Douglass Peoples used music to foster community and unity, and the passing of stories down to the next generation of the Peoples family created positive memories for Frances McKinney as she recalled the presence of music in her family.
Named Participant List
Henry H. Peoples, Willis F. Peoples, Mary E. Peoples infants by J.T. Peoples, their father and next friend,"
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
This quilt block features an image honoring the Peoples family members who participated in the lawsuit. While Frances recalls limited information about these individuals, their inclusion is vital to commemorating their bravery and the lasting impact of their actions. By highlighting their contributions, this piece serves as a tribute to their courage and a recognition of the legacy they helped shape for future generations.
Ruth Lee Peoples Recipe Card
To represent the family’s baking traditions, a copy of Ruth’s “deep chocolate cherry cake” recipe was included on the People’s quilt square. Hand-written by Ruth Peoples herself, this was one of the many family recipes that remain important to the family. The recipe on the quilt is another example of Frances McKinney's positive association with her mother and baking.
Recipe Card (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Click here to watch
NAACP Voting Ballot Box & Telephone
Ruth Peoples emphasized exercising the right to vote by managing a telephone where people would call in and ask for a ride to the polls to vote. Every election for multiple years, Ruth Peoples answered the phone for many community members in need of a ride to the voting polls, no matter friend, family, or stranger. The significance of the NAACP being written across the ballot box stems from Ruth's commitment to working with the NAACP and the Black community, seeing the NAACP as their voice. Ruth Peoples was a person committed to fighting racial injustice on multiple fronts, from her services driving people to vote, her legal battles involving her children, in which she attempted to work with the NAACP, and her attempts to attend Civil Rights marches, including the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in Washington D.C.
Hoe Cake
A specific recipe Frances McKinney remembers being prominent in their family was a type of cake they called “Hoe Cake”. Her mother Ruth Peoples had a lot of different cakes and breads she would bake, such as Lemon Cake and Black Forest Cake, but the one that stuck out in Frances McKinney’s memories the most was the Hoecake bread her mother would make, which consisted of milk, flour, water, and butter. Learning by watching, Frances McKinney picked up on making the delicious dessert and continues to make it to this day. Hoecake, bread, and baking bring back many positive memories from her childhood and her mother.
Hoe Cake (courtesy of Mommy's Kitchen and Homestead)
Ruth Peoples
Ruth Lee Peoples, mother of Frances McKinney, raised seven children as a single mother. She worked as a housekeeper and diligently provided for her children despite the challenges of single parenthood. Remembered for the sacrifices she made for her family, her photo, displayed in the middle of the Peoples family quilt square, signifies how she was the glue that held the family together.
Ruth Peoples (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Frances McKinney High School Yearbook Photo from 1973
Taken from her 1973 yearbook, Frances McKinney’s photo is prominently displayed on the top right of the quilt block. With all the help, sacrifices, and contributions Frances McKinney has made for her children, her community, and the 23/54 project, displaying her photo in such a manner felt necessary and correct. Her character consistently demonstrates resilience, compassion, and selflessness as she perseveres in her educational journey despite numerous obstacles and sacrifices made for her four children.
Frances McKinney (courtesy of Frances Peoples McKinney)
Click here to watch
New River Community College
Frances attended the Calfee Training School from the 2nd to 4th grades, where she encountered difficulties with material and, to her, "teachers who lacked compassion." As Frances' journey through education was not linear, she reflects more positively on her educational experiences later on in adolescence with teachers “who went the extra mile." In her adult life, Frances became the first in her family to attend college, earning a degree in Human Services. Her achievement set a transformative example for her four children, who also pursued higher education. This image symbolizes a new generation of learners inspired by Frances's trailblazing path.
New River Communnity College Sign (courtesy of the Roanoke Times)
Poppy
Julius Peoples served during World War I, in an unknown branch of service. In an effort to commemorate his time during the First World War, a poppy was placed on the right side of the quilt square. Poppies became synonymous with Armistice Day, the day the Armistice that officially ended World War I was signed, to remember all those who fought and died during the war. Poppies were also a common sight along the Western front lines during the war, popping up amongst the land torn by heavy machinery, trenches, and fighting. Commonly used to remember the First World War and all of those who served during it, the inclusion of the poppy into the quilt block was made to honor Julius Peoples and the sacrifices he made by fighting in the war.
Thurgood Marshall
Along with the many discussions surrounding voting and civil rights in general that Ruth Peoples emphasized in their home, Thurgood Marshall. Marshall was among the prominent African American legal representatives, including Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson, who took on the fight for the Calfee Training School and Black residents of Pulaski in their legal effort to equalize educational facilities and wages. While attending a Black teachers' education convention in Hampton, Virginia, Chauncy D. Harmon, a teacher and then later principal of the Calfee Training School, spoke with Thurgood Marshall and convinced him to take on Calfee’s legal fight for equal access to education. Thurgood Marshall’s involvement in the case that multiple generations of the Peoples family signed onto cemented his name as a common one spoken by Ruth Peoples and other family members.
Thurgood Marshall (courtesy of Bowie State University Library)
NAACP Voting Ballot Box & Telephone
Ruth Peoples emphasized exercising the right to vote by managing a telephone where people would call in and ask for a ride to the polls to vote. Every election for multiple years, Ruth Peoples answered the phone for many community members in need of a ride to the voting polls, no matter friend, family, or stranger. The significance of the NAACP being written across the ballot box stems from Ruth's commitment to working with the NAACP and the Black community, seeing the NAACP as their voice. Ruth Peoples was a person committed to fighting racial injustice on multiple fronts, from her services driving people to vote, her legal battles involving her children, in which she attempted to work with the NAACP, and her attempts to attend Civil Rights marches, including the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” in Washington D.C.