A century-old work of art, which took more than six months to restore, now hangs over a fireplace mantel in one of the Friend’s Place dining rooms where historic meetings for peace and planning for demonstrations took place in the last 50 years.
It is a gift by the Hulbert family and is the very first work of art to adorn the bare walls of the newly reopened Quaker guesthouse. Indeed, aside from a fresh coat of paint, the walls were entirely empty—that is, until October 28 when the Hulbert family unveiled their gift.
“It feels like it’s come home. It needs to be displayed. It represents such a wonderful message that should all be reminding us of right now,” said Mark Hulbert during its unveiling.
The artwork is a statement about Quaker efforts for peace and cooperation—timely, as Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, setting off months of war with no end in sight, despite ongoing calls for diplomacy.
The artwork, originally from Russia, depicts a man leading a horse. Although it still has to be confirmed, there are words from what appears to be a Ukrainian folk song embroidered in the burlap.
“Regardless of one’s attitude towards the invasion of Ukraine, it’s not the people of Russia who are invading. We want to create this understanding and that’s what the piece represents. And that’s what Friends Place represents. I’m sure my great-uncle would be ecstatic,” Mark said.
The artwork is made of threads unraveled from garments distributed 100 years ago by a Quaker-led relief program, which were embroidered onto a burlap feed sack. It was given by villagers to Alfred G. Smaltz, uncle of longtime FCNL supporter Jean Smaltz Hulbert.
Smaltz grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa. After World War I, he joined the American Friends Relief and Reconstruction Mission to support post-war reconstruction in Russia. He traveled to Russia in 1922, where he helped replace farmers’ horses that died in the war.
Smaltz visited horse bazaars in Siberia, where he purchased 1,000 wild horses and helped lead them on a 55-day, 1,500-mile trek back to the famine zone where he was stationed. The townspeople gifted this tapestry to him as a gesture of gratitude.
After her Uncle Alfred’s passing, Jean Hulbert inherited the piece and displayed it prominently in her home for decades. When she died, her sons Steve, Mark, Tom, and John—Smaltz’s great-nephews—realized it was time to determine the next stop on its journey, and they wanted it to be meaningful.
Mark Hulbert reached out to former FCNL General Secretary Diane Randall to discuss some options.
The Hulbert family’s rich history with FCNL spans decades. Jean was active with FCNL throughout her life. In 1974, Mark seized the opportunity to get involved as well. He attended his first Annual Meeting and served on various committees. He also served as the clerk of the General Committee, and of the Executive Committee.
