Lucreaty Clark, White Oak Basket Maker

I say, 'What kinda tree is that?' He say, 'Dogwood', I say, 'No gracious, don't bring no dogwood towards me!!!' I say, 'You couldn't even split a dogwood.' Nothing else but white oak." -Lucreaty Clark

History A brief introduction to Lucreaty Clark and white oak basket making. Documents and Audio Lucreaty Clark talks about making white oak baskets. Audio and transcripts. Photos Photographs of Lucreaty Clark. Lesson Plans If you had an ax, a hammer, a knife, and a white oak tree, could you make a basket?

Lucreaty Clark was born in 1904, in Jefferson County, Florida. She learned to make white oak baskets from her parents.

Originally these sturdy baskets were used to hold cotton and carry vegetables. The tradition of white oak basket making has been carried on by Lucreaty Clark's grandson, Alphonso Jennings.