The Solar System by Ellen Harding Baker

Ellen Harding Baker isn't a name that's widely known, but she was clearly a remarkable woman. An American who lived in Iowa, she was born in June 1847 and grew up to be an astronomer, a teacher, a wife and mother of seven children. Ellen died in March 1886 of T.B. So, why is her name remembered? It's because of a quilt that she spent seven years making, which became a visual teaching aid and one that probably helped numerous students understand more of the world around them.

The quilt's approximately 89 x 106 inches, and is a mix of woollen cloth and wool/silk embroidery. It's thought that Ellen based her representation of the solar system both on illustrations in astronomy textbooks and on her own observations of the night sky.

If you'd like to read more about Ellen's quilt, further info can be found via this link.

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