Data Angels

The 70273 Project Data Angels are a group of dedicated, amazing women who volunteered to be responsible for creating The Missus, our online searchable database that was part of the original big, fat, crazy idea. Here’s what they do when not hunched over a computer.

 

Peggy Thomas, Lead (Georgia, USA)

My husband and I live about 30 minutes south of Atlanta, not far from where our founder Jeanne Hewell-Chambers and The Engineer have deep family roots. In 2016, after I sold my business and was searching for a new mission, our mutual friend Joyce told me about The 70273 Project. It was love at first sight, and I immediately got involved. I’m now proud to serve as the Board Chair of this incredible initiative.

Our son, who is Autistic, was one of the original Data Angels just after graduating from college. He has been writing film reviews since he was ten years old, and you can find his work at www.kevinthecritic.com. He certainly would have received a death sentence, and because of him and others living with disabilities today we have to continue this work to both tell the story and encourage people to advocate for communities that plan for and include disabled people.

In my free time, I love reading mysteries and World War II novels. I’m also a passionate novice when it comes to quilting. I took a beginner quilting class years ago and made a bed-size quilt. I enjoyed it so much that I started a more complicated bedspread for my then fiancé, but after we got married, I set it down and haven’t picked it up since! Still, I’ve made more quilt blocks than I can count and even contributed a couple of Middlings to The 70273 Project.

Gladys Loewen, Coordinator (Vancouver, Canada)

When I saw The 70273 Project special exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas in 2017, I knew I wanted to become part of this project as I identify as disabled.  Other reasons include the fact that I am a quilter and sew clothes. My grandmothers and aunts were quilters and hand stitchers as they made all their clothes, quilts, doilies, and pillowcases. I am a granddaughter of German Mennonites who fled Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution in the late 1920s and ended up in Canada by sheer luck as that is where the ship they boarded was bound. My dad’s 2 little sisters died in a German refugee camp after fleeing Russia, a loss that left him as an only child. I am retired from my career as a manager and consultant of disability resources and inclusion in higher education, so creating inclusive environments that welcome disabled people was my job for over 25 years.

In 2019 I accepted the role of a Data Angel for The 70273 Project entering data from the Provenance forms and in 2020, I started coordinating six volunteers who enter the data from the Provenance forms into what will eventually be an online searchable database, accessible via sight and audio. I’ve made many blocks and quilts – including a Middling with my 9 year old grandson and guiding my 16 year old granddaughter in piecing and finishing a quilt from a bundle of blocks filled with XXs – her first quilt!. This volunteer work is a labor of love that allows me to use skills I have developed throughout my life.

 

Maria Conway (Argentina)

I heard about the project when it had just started through Facebook. Someone shared Jeanne’s introduction post saying “check this out” and I did! And it really touched me, especially since I had no idea this had happened. I remember thinking that it would take forever to gather all the blocks and turn them into quilts (I was not wrong!) and decided to start immediately to sew some blocks.

During COVID lockdown the call for volunteers for data entry came and I jumped at the chance to do more.

I was born and still live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Youngest of four in a typical middle class family. Not so typical in that my eldest sister is disabled; she would have definitely gotten two XXs.  I have an older teenage daughter and work as a clerk/secretary in a construction company. I love all things crafty from sewing and knitting to furniture repair and home improvement.

I love helping on the 70273 project since it allows me to do things I love and it has given me the opportunity to meet some really great people.

 

Pat Taylor (Wisconsin, USA)

Visiting the 2017 Minnesota Quilt Show, meeting Jeanne and viewing some of the completed quilts for The 70273 Project that were exhibited was one of those moments when you just knew this was a new direction your life would take. It started out simply enough with making just a few blocks to contribute. But the powerful story that grew in my heart led me to volunteer as a Data Angel and later to help organize, along with my friends, some of the bundles of blocks and turn those into completed quilts. Each stitch took on new meaning and dedication. In memory of our first born son, in memory of the thousands who received those double red XX’s and with prayers that we would never witness such a time again. I call myself a quilter, often inspired by antique quilts, loving the handwork involved and the history behind the art. Owning my quilt shop was one of the most satisfying times ever. The friendships made have lasted long after I sold it and retired to the Northwoods. The bond of quilters is worldwide and has no language barriers as being part of this incredible 70273 global journey has proven.

 

Roberta Pabst (California, USA)

I am retired from being a computer programmer in high tech here in Silicon Valley. I spend most of my time volunteering for various organizations such as Quilt Guild and Embroiderer’s Guild. I was elected to the school board and served 5 years. I’ve chaired 5 quilt shows and will help with our Quilt Guild’s 50thAnniversary show in 2025. My involvement with the Embroiderers’ guild is at the region level as Treasurer and I attend as many local, region and national stitching events as possible. My husband and I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren scattered around the country.

I was born in Mississippi and raised in Germany, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan and Alabama. I went to the University of Nebraska and then moved to California as soon as I could! I learned early on that a good way to get to know people is to get in there and help out. I found the 70273 Project when a few guild members showed the blocks they had made and explained why. I relate to the project specifically because I have a brother who is severely developmentally disabled due to fetal alcohol syndrome. I am his guardian at this point. Our Dad, and then oursister, provided very well for him and now it is my turn. He lives in Arizona with a wonderful family who take excellent care of him. My heart breaks whenever I think of 70,273 families whose disabled family members were murdered simply because they were disabled. The commemoration of these peoples’ lives, including public awareness of the tragedy, is a very worthwhile project and I feel honored to participate.

 

Sharyn Phillips (Australia)

I came across the 70273 project late one night when doing some reading on the internet and immediately printed out a provenance form.  That form sat in my ToDo file for quite a few years being one of those round to do jobs that prey on our consciences from time to time.  Then one day I saw an email or notification from Peggy with her usual End Note of ‘ask me how you can help’ – so I did.  This led to me becoming a data angel and also finally completing that long-awaited Provenance form for a block that was included in Quilt # 805 – or what is known as ‘The Siblings quilt’.  

About me – well, I live a simple life in rural Victoria Australia with my Husband Murray.  We live in the Golden Triangle so that may be a small hint to our favorite pastime.  I also love Quilting and knitting, and well, anything crafty really, but what I am best at is growing my stash!  We have 5 children between us (all grown up now!) and one precious new baby Granddaughter.  

Wendy Sanborne (Pennsylvania, USA)

I first came in contact with striking exhibit of The 70273 Project at the Houston Quilt Show in 2017. Months later I gathered materials for making blocks when a group of college friends were visiting in Nov 2018.  They pinned X shapes and sewed some and I finished the rest. My 4 grandkids, their mothers and the other grandmothers also made blocks. By Feb of 2019, I put the blocks into quilt #603. I’m now quilting my sixth or seventh quilt since for the Project working as a data angel.  I’m glad to be helping and finishing all that I can for the Great Gathering and look forward to contributing in a helpful and meaningful way.

I don’t really remember when I realized my younger brother was considered “handicapped.” He wore a prosthetic leg because he was born without a foot on one leg and only 4 toes on the other foot.  He would definitely have received two red XXs.  We spent summers on a lake and usually went water skiing every day.  That was a problem for my brother because most people learn to ski on two skis. One day, my oldest brother helped my younger brother to learn to ski on one foot.  After many tries, my younger brother mastered it and water skied with the rest of us.

For 25 years I volunteered for La Leche League helping mothers to breastfeed their children, and helping the Eastern PA League. I am proud of those years where there was a lot of coordination between local support groups and health groups like March of Dimes. I have three hobbies: quilting which I started in 1990 and try to finish one quilt a month for children’s groups and veteran and hospice organizations; photographic chronicling of our lives which has disintegrated into Apple phone pictures and chaotic digital files; and genealogy which is still on paper except for my file program with Family Tree Maker.  Family is definitely important to me and I express it in these three areas.

My husband and I like to travel, looking for opportunities where we could be in the homes of local people to learn their cultures.  I hope people who travel can see that people are the same all over the world.  They want their families to be happy and healthy; people and places aren’t just the isolated headlines seen on the news.