QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5274

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0092

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2008:119.32

Object label:

Cat in the Window
Viola Canady
Washington, D.C.
1989
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.32

Essay:

This wall hanging is depicts a gray cat in a four paned window with a vase of flowers and gold curtains. It is done in the stained glass style where each applique piece is secured with a strip of black bias binding 1/2" wide. This is a technique for which Viola was well known. There is a 3" solid black border. The edges are turned in . It is not quilted.

Viola Canady founded a group called "Daughters of Darcus", an African American quilting group and a division of the National Quilting Association. Cuesta Benberry was made an honorary member of the Daughters of Darcus by Viola Canady.

Quilt's title:

Cat in the Window

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Stained glass

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Canady, Viola

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, state:

Washington D.C.

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1989

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's state:

Washington D.C.

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Viola Canady founded a group called "Daughters of Darcus", an African American quilting group and a division of the National Quilting Association.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

21 3/8"

How long is the quilt?

27 3/4"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Brown; Gold; Gray; Pink; Purple; Red

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Signature; Date

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Vi Canady

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1989

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on border

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Number of quilt blocks:

1

Size of quilt blocks:

22" x 15 1/2"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

3"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Black

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

Source of the information on this quilt:

MSU Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

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

Made entire quilt

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Viola was known for her Stained Glass technique.

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees