QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-286

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Illinois Quilt Research Project Registry Number:

SP729

Alternate inventory control number:

1966.4 (746627)

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker

Source of the information on this quilt:

grandmother

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Connelly, Nancy Steward

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1810

Date and place of quiltmaker's death:

1897

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Steward, Drusilla

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Steward, Nathan

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

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

Made entire quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Plano

Where the quilt was made, county:

Kendall

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):

Nancy Steward was born in New London Co., CT in 1810, married Captian David Beebe in 1830 and they soon moved to Sandusky Co., OH. He left for CA during the gold rush in 1849 and died on his return. Nancy married Robert Connelly in 1855 and they moved to Plano. She lived there until her death in 1897. 1880 census showed her living as a widow with the W.F. Bradley family--who do not appear to be related. Quilt has handed down to her granddaughter Edith M. Bailey.

Has this quilt won prizes? Date and event:

county fair

Date owner signed the form:

1966

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Crazy

How was the inscription marked?

Embroidery

Date provided by maker/owner:

1894

Date estimated by IQRP:

ca. 1880-90s

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1876-1900

Length:

64

Width:

71

Block size:

9 1/2

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Includes ribbon for Cleveland/Thurman campaign. Almost every block has embroidered flower, 1 butterfly.

Construction (top):

Crazy

Block style (top):

Same block throughout

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

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

30

Fabric; fibers:

Silk

Fabric print:

Solid/plain; Multiple scrap

Predominant colors (top):

Blue or Navy

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Describe the quilting designs used:

Tied at corners of blocks.

How are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

What color was the quilting thread?

blue

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

Single dark blue velvet border with silk scrap prairie points at edge.

Binding and edge treatment:

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

Describe the binding:

applied binding on top, tucked in on other sides

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Silk

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

half inch - one inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

Cannot tell

Surface decoration:

Embroidery; Painting

What items were used to embellish the quilt?

Silk thread

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

2--brown/red print

Backing; fiber content:

Cotton; Flannel

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Print

Backing; width of pieces (in inches):

32

Backing; color:

Brown

Condition:

Excellent/like new

Inscription:

Date; Multiple Names

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Nancy Steward, born Dec. 31, 1810, N. L. Conn.; MHR Connelly

Inscription: front/back?

on block

Describe where the inscription was found:

in center block

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Steward, Nancy

The quilt was made to be used for:

Decorative throw