Images(2)

Quilt, Pieced Checked Textiles

Date1890-1910

Maker Sudie Virginia Houston Rhodes (Mrs. Robert Joseph) (1876-1953)

OriginAmerica, North Carolina, Duplin County, Kenansville area (probably)

MediumCottons (fiber identification by microscope)

Dimensions74 1/2 in. x 74 1/2 in.

Credit LineGift of Susan W. Redd and Martha W. McMurran

Object number2015.609.7

DescriptionThis is a square quilt pieced in a pattern consisting of sixteen star blocks. Each star consists of eight diamonds and is set within an octagon inside a square, all joined by blue checked sashing that is pieced to create a square of contrasting textile between each star. The textiles include various plain-woven checks and plaids with blue, brown, beige, and white predominating. The quilting consists of diagonal rows of running stitches spaced one inch apart, worked with heavy white cotton at four to five stitches per inch. The quilt is backed with blue and white checked cotton. The edge finishing varies: In some areas the face fabric is folded to the back, turned under and stitched about a quarter inch from the edge; in other areas the backing is brought to the front, turned under, and stitched. The thick stuffing or batting is white cotton.
Label TextVarious checked textiles made of blue and brown cottons were produced by the hundreds of yards in North Carolina textile mills. The textiles were utilitarian, used to make everyday clothing and utility quilts such as this example. The checked fabrics in this quilt are often associated with North Carolina plaids of the type known as “Alamance plaids.”
The quilt was probably made by Sudie Virginia Houston (1876-1953), who married Robert Joseph Rhodes. The couple lived in Kenansville in Duplin County, North Carolina.
ProvenanceThe donors suggested that the quilt was made by Sudie Virginia Houston. It may have been made by her, or Sudie's mother, Sarah Virginia Swinson Houston.
The quilt descended to the donors, Susan Redd and Martha McMurran, in the following line of descent:
Sarah Virginia Swinson (1842-1935) married Edward Wright Houston (1824-1902) and lived in Duplin County, NC.
Their daughter was Sudie Virginia Houston (1876-1953) who married Robert Joseph Rhodes (1870-1926) in Duplin Co., NC. Sudie was the possible quiltmaker. Sudie and her husband Robert had moved from NC to Newport News, VA, by 1906.
Sudie and Robert's eldest daughter was:
Sarah Houston Rhodes (1902-1991) who married John Gregory Warburton (1896-1966). Sarah was born in NC and was in Newport News, VA, with parents by about 1906. The couple moved to Williamsburg, VA, where both of them lived the rest of their lives.
Sarah and John's daughters were the quilt donors:
Martha Warburton McMurran (b. Jan. 24, 1930) married Richard Epes McMurran (1927-2006) and the couple lived in Newport News, VA.
and
Susan Warburton Redd