Whaley née Kear was born on May 24, 1840, in
Sevier County, Tennessee. In 1860, she married John Whaley, with whom she had three children, two survived infancies. John Whaley died in 1864, while fighting for the
Union army in the
American Civil War. Whaley supported her family by farming. She also worked as a basket weaver, midwife and healer. Whaley is known for her
basket weaving. The
Aunt Lydia basket is created from willow bark, with a large handle. At the age of 70, Whaley taught the craft at the
Pi Beta Phi settlement house, now the
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. == References ==