MARTHA ANN RICKS c. 1817–1901
Born into slavery in Tennessee, she was freed by her father, George Erskine, and, at age 13, emigrated with him and her family to Liberia in 1830. While primarily working in agriculture there, Ricks was also known for her needlework and became an expert quilter. She became interested in Queen Victoria and spent more than two decades working on a quilt to present to her. In 1892, Ricks traveled with former First Lady Jane Roberts to England, where she received a royal audience with Queen Victoria and personally presented her with the quilt.
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