Images(4)

Quilt, Child's

Dateca. 1863

OriginAmerica, Connecticut, Fairfield County (probably)

MediumPlain and printed cottons (fiber identification by eye) Cotton construction thread, quilt thread, and fill (fiber identification by Textile Lab)

DimensionsOH: 24 1/4" x OW: 37 5/8"

Credit LineGift of Bill and Susan Jones and sons Jeff, Eric and Tim

Object number2023.609.4

DescriptionThis is a small, pieced child’s rectangular quilt, layered with cotton fill and lined. The front is pieced with 13 multi-colored stripes of light brown, yellow, printed stars on black ground, and pink (perhaps once red) fabrics. At the center is an appliquéd five-pointed star edged with running stitches and widely spaced buttonhole or blanket stitching worked in black cotton thread. An inscription in white running stitches is worked across the stripes: “Freedom to all men/ Abraham Lincoln is our Key to our peaceful/ solution for Baby John born/ Fairfield Co Conn 1863/ His Papa gave his life/ at Gettysburg Pa.” The plain cotton lining is turned to the front of the quilt edges to form a wide binding, approximately 5/8” to ¼” wide. On the back in black running stitches is the inscription “Free the Negros” in reverse . At least two of the stitches go through to the front of the quilt suggesting that the layers were in place before the inscription was stitched.
Label TextSmall doll and children's quilts were made by both mothers and daughters. Often these quilts were used as teaching tools, allowing girls to learn the art of quilt making while also preparing them for future roles as mothers. This quilt is a combination of both piecing and appliqué with thirteen pieced stripes and a large five-pointed star appliquéd in the center of the cover. The small quilt carries a powerful abolitionist message to "Free the Negros." It may seem unusual that a child's bed cover would convey such a powerful sentiment. A second stitched inscription on the quilt, however, provides further clarification. It states that the quilt was created "for Baby John born/ Fairfield Co Conn 1863/ his Papa gave his life/ at Gettysburg Pa." At this time Baby John and his father have not been identified.
Inscribed“Freedom to all men/ Abraham Lincoln is our Key to our peaceful/ solution for Baby John born/ Fairfield Co Conn 1863/ His Papa gave his life/ at Gettysburg Pa.”
“Free the Negros”
ProvenancePrior to donation to the museum, the quilt was in the collection of Susan and William Jones. At one time Susan owned an antique shop called Susan & Sons in Georgetown. It is believed the quilt was part of that collection. No other provenance is known.
The quilt carries the inscription: "for Baby John born/ Fairfield Co Conn 1863/ His Papa gave his life/ at Gettysburg at Pa.” Without a surname, we have not been able to identify John.