QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5278

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Cuesta Benberry Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0096

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

2008:119.36

Object label:

Child Life Embroidery
Sue Hannan
1997
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.36

Essay:

Sue Hannan made this quilt out block patterns designed by Ruby Short McKim. McKim was a designer of quilt blocks dating from the 1920s. Her work was published in magazines and newspapers (example: The Kansas City Star). The designs used in this quilt were published in Child Life Magazine from 1925-1926. The style of these blocks is "art deco" in inspiration. That is, the curves in the children's outlines are squared off.

Quilt's title:

Child Life Embroidery

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Hannan, Sue

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1997

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

44"52"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Cream; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Date; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Designs by Ruby Short McKim for Child Life Magazine January 1925-August 1926. Made by Sue Hannan

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

May 1997-June 1997

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

12

Size of quilt blocks:

8" x 8"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

2"

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

2 1/2"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

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

half inch - one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Each block contains a different childhood scene - a ballerina, a cowboy, an African American girl holding a watermelon, a boy with his sail boat, a boy with a sled, a Boy Scout in uniform, a girl cooking, a boy with a hoe, a boy, painting, a nurse with a doll, a serving girl, a boy with his dog, a boy, fishing, a girl, swimming, a boy with a rake, a girl with two pails, a child dressed in a long dress like a Pilgrim. Each of these designs is outline embroidered, using a stem or outline stitch with dark blue embroidery thread.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Ruby Short McKim

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 anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

Ruby Short McKim was a designer of quilt blocks dating from the 1920s. Her work was published in magazines and newspapers (example: The Kansas City Star). The designs used in this quilt were published in "Child Life Magazine." In 1925-1926. The style of these blocks is "art deco" in inspiration. That is, the curves in the children's outlines are squared off.

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees