QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-92

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:

1995.242.134

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Combs, Virgina Primm

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1849 IL

Was the quiltmaker married? If yes, when?

1868 IL

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Combs, Amos

Spouse's occupation:

farmer

Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?

4 in 1880

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

2

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Bracken, Lucinda

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

KY

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Primm, Enoch

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

VA

How did the owner get the quilt?

Purchase

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

Autograph or friendship

Where the quilt was made, city:

Tallula

Where the quilt was made, county:

Menard

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):

Virginia Primm was born near Rock Creek in Menard County, married there, and in the 1880 census she was listed in Talulla, Menard Co. Virginia was married to Amos Combs June 19, 1868. Since Virginia's name and her husband's are the only full names on the quilt and the only date is 1868, quilt may have been made as a wedding quilt by her and her friends and family. Quilt was given to Clayville Rural Life Center, part of Sangamon State University and when the museum closed, it was purchased by the ISM.

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Album

Source of pattern name and number. Include if it is a variation.

2414

Date shown on quilt:

1868

How was the inscription marked?

Ink

Date estimated by IQRP:

ca. 1868

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1850-1875

Length:

85

Width:

69

Block size:

9

Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?

6

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Smaller version of Album block used as cornerstones of sashing.

Construction (top):

Block pattern

Block style (top):

Squares

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

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

42

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1 block in 2 sizes

Fabric; fibers:

Cotton

Fabric print:

Solid/plain; Multiple scrap

Predominant colors (top):

Pink; Brown; Cream

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid square; Single parallel lines

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Vines

Describe the quilting designs used:

Grid in pieced blocks, parallel lines in cornerstone blocks, feathered vines in plain sashing.

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

What color was the quilting thread?

white

Knots visible?

no

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by sashing with cornerstones or connecting blocks

Describe the borders:

None.

Binding and edge treatment:

Straight grain

Describe the binding:

pink printed cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

Cotton

Thickness:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

Backing; fiber content:

Cotton

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Backing; color:

Cream

Condition:

Fair/worn

Describe specific damage to the quilt:

Disintegration of fabric; Fading; Stains; Tears or holes

Inscription:

Date; Initials; Signature; Multiple Names

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Virginia M. Combs /Au th 17 1868; Amos Combs

Inscription: front/back?

on block

Describe where the inscription was found:

many blocks have initials

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Primm, Virginia