Images(5)

Quilt, Memory

Dateca. 1910

Maker Unidentified

OriginAmerica, Virginia, James City County or Richmond County (possibly)

MediumWools, cottons, silks, possibly rayons (fiber identification by eye)

DimensionsOverall: 77 × 58 1/4in. (195.6 × 148cm)

Credit LineGift of Susan and James Meyer

Object number2022.609.2

DescriptionThis is a rectangular quilt consisting of 108 pieces, each about 6 ½ by 7 inches, worked with piecing, applique, and embroidery in pictorial motifs and words commemorating life events, places, and dates. Each block is stitched to the adjacent block and over-stitched with decorative herringbone stitches (some missing). Other stitches include a crudely worked outline stitch, overcasting edges of applique, and straight filling stitches. The textiles include cottons, silks, wools, and possibly rayons in a variety of weave structures and colors. A new replaced one-inch binding finishes the edges, obscuring some of the stitching in the outer blocks. The quilt face is tied at intervals to a backing that consists of a printed design of green, yellow, and cream small-scale formal sprigs on black.
The dates embroidered on the quilt include:
1906; May ‘07; June ‘07; May ‘08; Nov. ‘08; ’09; 1910; Aug ’10; ‘12; Feb. ‘12; May ‘12; June ‘12; and 191[3]
The places include:
Jamestown; Madison (?) Va; Lynchburg; Roanoke; Ocean View 1912; Washington DC June 19 ‘11; Mill Mt. June ‘11; Chinatown NY; Coney Isle ‘10; NY; Bedford City ‘07; Cape Henry; Richmond ‘07; Durham NC ‘06; and Roanoke Dam ‘11.
The names and initials include:
MLA; SB; WB; AC; AMC; TC; ME; EG; PMH; EI; JJ; Joe; CK; LBK; ONL (?); Mac; CM; MM; SCM; CHR; F?R; CPS; CS; OS; Miss Oliv[ia] Stewart Jamestown, Va [on a stamped envelope]; PS; JET; Tom; BW; MW
Events include:
Rockledge Inn Dance Mill Mt June ‘11; Crabbing in NN ‘07; Ghost Party Oct 31 ‘08; SCM Recitals ‘08, ‘09 [with motif of piano]; Engagements CHR ‘10 LBK ‘12; Wedding March ‘10 ‘11 EG ES [and] CS; Follies of 1910 NY J. E. T.; VPI Sham Battle ‘05; Mac wins mile race Field Day ‘07 ‘08; VI Com ‘10 [with motif of mortar board cap]; The Queen RMA [or RMh] Receptions May ‘07 ‘08 [with woman in chair]; School Days First Reader; and Childhood Fright.
Motto included:
The more I s[ee]/ of some/ People Th[e]/ Better [I ]/ Like [my dog]. [with motif of dog.]

Label TextMany quilts tell stories and make connections to past lives and events. This memory quilt certainly records a story and appears to have been created as a scrap book of someone's life. Each of the 108 quilt blocks records an even including recitals, field day, and crabbing. Place names include Lynchburg, Roanoke, Richmond, and Durham, North Carolina.
ProvenanceNo provenance other than donor is known.