QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5910

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

11.0026

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

2011:140.1

Object label:

Oklahoma WPA Quilt
WPA Quilters Group
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1936
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2011:140.1

Essay:

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a relief measure established in 1935 that offered work on an unprecedented scale through a wide variety of programs. In July 1935, the WPA created the Division of Women’s and Professional Projects to develop and administer projects hiring women.This included handicraft projects that produced quilts and other textiles.

W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration)Sampler Quilt signed by different crews in central Oklahoma. 14,000 quilts and 5000 comforters were produced in the W.P.A. sewing rooms. The W.P.A. paid the women 50 cents/day to quilt and the men $1/day for construction and road building. A man with a mule team received $2/day according to author Marjorie Barton in Leaning on a Legacy, The WPA in Oklahoma. This quilt was from the Oklahoma City estate of Nellie (Mrs. Leon Townsend) youngest of 13 children born in 1907. Leon was born in 1903 and his family homesteaded where Will Rogers Airport currently is in Oklahoma City. Leon’s sister was a famous doll maker and collector.

Row 1, block A: 22.
Row 1, block B: Crew 19.
Row 1, block C: Crew no.
Row 1, block D: PURCELL Mclain county
Row 2, block A: Crew 4.
Row 2, block B: Crew 25.
Row 2, block C: Lexington.
Row 2, block D: Crew No. 6.
Row 3, block A: Norman.
Row 3, block B: Crew Twenty eight.
In the sashing: Quilted by Crew 3.
Row 3, block C: Blanchard, McGlain County.
Row 3, block D: Crew 2.
Row 4, block A: Crew 21.
Row 4, block B: Crew 17 Bethany.
Row 4, block C: Crew Number Nine
Row 4, block D: Crew 7.
Row 5, block A: Crew No. 18, Edmond, Okla.
Row 5, block B: Crew 10.
Row 5, block C: No. 16 1936.
Row 5, block D: CREW TWENTY.

Quilt's title:

Oklahoma W.P.A. Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

sampler

Name of the group that made the quilt:

W.P.A. quilters group

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

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Oklahoma City

Where the quilt was made, state:

Oklahoma (OK)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1936

Why was the quilt made?

Personal income

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's state:

Oklahoma (OK)

This is a:

Finished quilt

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Green; Lavender; Pink; White

Overall color scheme:

Light or pastel colors

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Row 1, block A: 22. Row 1, block B: Crew 19. Row 1, block C: Crew no. Row 1, block D: PURCELL Mclain county Row 2, block A: Crew 4. Row 2, block B: Crew 25. Row 2, block C: Lexington. Row 2, block D: Crew No. 6. Row 3, block A: Norman. Row 3, block B: Crew Twenty eight. In the sashing: Quilted by Crew 3. Row 3, block C: Blanchard, McGlain County. Row 3, block D: Crew 2. Row 4, block A: Crew 21. Row 4, block B: Crew 17 Bethany. Row 4, block C: Crew Number Nine Row 4, block D: Crew 7. Row 5, block A: Crew No. 18, Edmond, Okla. Row 5, block B: Crew 10. Row 5, block C: No. 16 1936. Row 5, block D: CREW TWENTY.

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on block; on border

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

20

Size of quilt blocks:

17" X 17"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

2"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

7

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Elbow/fan

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

Sampler Quilt signed by the different crews in central OK. 14,000 quilts and 5000 comforters were produced in the WPA sewing rooms. The WPA paid the women 50 cents/day to quilt and the men $1/day for construction and road building. A man with a mule team received $2/day according to author Marjorie Barton who wrote Leaning on a Legacy, The WPA in Oklahoma.

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

A New Deal for Quilts, The International Quilt Museum, Janneken Smucker, curator, Lincoln, NE, October 6, 2023 - April 20, 2024.

Source of the information on this quilt:

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 purchased from a quilt dealer who said it was from the Oklahoma City estate of Nellie (Mrs. Leon Townsend) youngest of 13 kids born in 1907. Leon was born in 1903 and his family homesteaded where Will Rogers Airport currently is in OKC. Leon’s sister was a famous doll maker and collector.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees