In a letter from Monrovia dated June 10, 1934, Walter Logan Fry wrote:

"I bought the best-looking country cloth yesterday. It is large, perhaps seven by fourteen, and beautiful. It is made in strips and then sewed together. I hung it on my wall because after all this is my home for two years and it should look like home. At least, a place where someone lives. A missionary who was in the bank asked how much it was, and agreed that it was worth the three pounds I paid for it, even though three pounds seemed like a lot of money."

I don't find any textile in the collection that is seven by fourteen feet, although Country Cloth No 2 is almost exactly that width, and half of the length.

The strips that make up each textile vary in width from 3 1/2 to 4 3/4 inches and were woven on very narrow looms. The weaving needed to be precise, so that the strips could be sewn together without gaps or bulges. As a precision weaver myself, I can appreciate the skill necessary to weave such cloth.

Note that my father didn't identify the missionary he met in the bank, but he did mention Dr. Oberly [Rev Dr Robert Sherman Oberly] in this letter dated June 24, 1934. George Harley was also a prominent missionary in Liberia during the period. Father may have met him, or one of his associates. There wouldn't have been too many other possibilities.

Finally, a conservator's note: No effort has been made to remove small patches of rust stains on the cotton shirt, or wash the cotton textiles. It is believed that this should be reserved for professional conservators, if such cleaning is desired.

Country cloth is a hand sewn clothing textile made by Liberian country cloth makers. Liberia, like every other African country, had indigenous country clothes which were woven in strips and sewn with needles by both men and women. They were worn by elders, paramount chiefs, persons of high status and public figures in the country.

Country cloth is symbolic and represents a unique heritage and status in Liberian society. Liberia has an age old tradition of gowning people who attain high status in society. It is also given to diplomats to show recognition of their contributions towards Liberia. Public figures are also gowned as a way of positioning themselves in their political offices.

Primary source: Mmaduabuchi Obinelo, entrepreneur, Monrovia, Liberia.

Ldamie, brass caster of the Dan, is shown wearing country cloth in the photograph to the right. Also notice the white blouses or shirts, an example of which is seen immediately to the right of the Ldamie photograph.

Father also photographed two men and a young boy in Monrovia. The older man to the left and the young boy were wearing country cloth, and all were wearing the type of Islamic hat seen in many of Ldamie's sculptures.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art has several examples of cotton country cloth in its collection, including the textile seen to the right. The NMAFA collection also includes the narrow strips from which such cloth was made.