QUILT INDEX RECORD

11-37-4895

Essay:

Four Patch Quilt, c.1910
Theresa Oliver Mello, Lowell, MA
70w X 82h

Hand and machine pieced, tied
Cotton
Theresa Oliver Mello was the daughter of John and Mary (Bettencourt) Oliver, who emigrated from the Azores and settled in Provincetown with their many children, including Theresa.  After moving to Lowell, Theresa lived with her married sister and worked in one of the mills. She was a weaver in the mills and handled twelve looms on which she made canvas. Her family and friends knew her as a skilled lacemaker.
See also "The New England Quilt Museum Quilts" (pp24-27) by Jennifer Gilbert for more information about Theresa (Oliver) Mello.
Gift of Anne M. Keating and Jane Keating Latus, 2000.0

This quilt was subsequently published in "Massachusetts Quilts: Our Common Wealth" edited by Lynne Z. Bassett in 2009 (pp 242-245)

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project - MassQuilts

Who documented this quilt?

Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, MassQuilts; New England Quilt Museum Collection

MASS-Quilts ID Number:

2049

Alternate inventory control number:

NEQM# 2000.07

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner:

New England Quilt Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Lowell

Quilt owner's state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Quilt owner's county:

Middlesex

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Width:

70

Length:

82

Quilt top made by:

Mello, Theresa Oliver

Quiltmaker's state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Quiltmaker's city:

Lowell

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's D.O.B.:

1875

Birthplace, city:

St George Island, Azores

Occupation:

mill worker

Date of death and location:

1921 in Lowell, MA.

Ethnic group:

Portuguese

Quiltmaker's spouse:

Mello, Frank F.

Spouse's occupation:

box maker

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Oliver, Mary Bettencourt

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace and birthdate:

Azores

Quiltmaker's Mother's Ethnic/Racial Group:

Portuguese

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Bettencourt, John

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace and birthdate:

Azores

Quiltmaker's Father's Ethnic/Racial Group:

Portuguese

How did owner acquire quilt?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

from family of Amelia Mello Keating; collection of Anne & Jane Keating

Time period:

1901-1929

Do you know if any of the following exist (quiltmaker's diary or letters, patterns for quilt/quilting, photos of quiltmaker, quiltmaker's scrapbook or clippings, quiltmaker's patterns, awards, ribbons, pins, photo of quilt, other, existent?, if so, where)?

Gilbert pg 27

Format:

Finished quilt

Technique, piecing:

Machine Piecing

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares

Vertical rows, horizontal rows and number of blocks:

28 vertical rows, 24 horizontal rows, 672 blocks

Block shape:

Squares

Block size:

3"

Fabric fibers:

Cotton

Patterns:

Print

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

plain weave

Predominant colors:

Blue or Navy

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilting:

Tied or tufted

Binding and edging:

Back turned to front

Binding; fiber:

Cotton

Binding; weave:

Plain weave

Batting:

Cotton

Backing, number of pieces:

4 pieces

Backing, fiber:

Cotton

Condition:

Excellent/like new

Condition, structurally sound?

This quilt is structurally sound.

Pattern name, no. and source:

1103a

Pattern name, variations and comments:

4 Patch

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1910c

Width of pieces on the back:

2 are 31.5; 1 is smaller

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

New England Quilt Museum