QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-58

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Alternate inventory control number:

1993.29.2

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Radford, Eliza

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1871 England

What is/was the occupation of the quiltmaker?

seamstress

Date and place of quiltmaker's death:

1957 IL

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Radford, Mary

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

England

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

England

Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?

She helped make the crazy quilt by Bertha Peck Radford in the Museum's collection.

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Aunt

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made quilt blocks or part of quilt top

Why was the quilt made? Was it made for a special occasion?

Commemorative

Where the quilt was made, city:

Braceville or Chicago

Where the quilt was made, county:

Grundy or Cook

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Anything else we should know about this quilt? (i.e. customs, stories):

Made with help of her friend Bertha Peck who later married her brother. Eliza made this for her hope chest although she may never have married. Her father was working at the World's Columbian Exposition while this was made and the family may have moved to Chicago at this time. They were listed in the 1880 census as living in Braceville, Grundy County, and that is where her niece thought this was made.

Date owner signed the form:

1993

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Crazy

Date shown on quilt:

1893

How was the inscription marked?

Embroidery; Other

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

on ribbon

Date provided by maker/owner:

ca. 1893

Date estimated by IQRP:

ca. 1893

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Further information concerning dates:

made during Columbian exposition

Time period:

1876-1900

Length:

72"

Width:

72"

Block size:

14" x 14"

Format:

Quilt top with unfinished edge

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing; Foundation Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Blocks sewn together by machine. Various decorative embroidery stitches used including outline for pictures, chenille flowers, initials.

Construction (top):

Block pattern

Block style (top):

Squares

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of full blocks; pieced, appliqued, and plain:

25

Fabric; fibers:

Silk

Fabric print:

Multiple scrap

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

velvet, satin, brocade, lace

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

None.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Surface decoration:

Embroidery

What items were used to embellish the quilt?

Chenille thread

Condition:

Good/moderate use

Describe specific damage to the quilt:

Disintegration of fabric

Inscription:

Date; Initials

Describe the type of inscription:

many initials

What is inscribed on the quilt?

BAC on ribbon; Florence on ribbon

Inscription: front/back?

on block

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Radford, Eliza

The quilt was made to be used for:

Decorative throw