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Crazy Quilt

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6693

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:

94.0084

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

TC1993:1

Object label:

Crazy Quilt
Maker unknown
Ohio
c1890
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#TC1993:1

Essay:

This quilt was inherited by John and Terri Dickey from his mother Ruth Simms Dickey (1894-1989) and her sister Lillian Simms Suiter (1886-1987). They inherited quilts from their mother Alice Bay Simms 1864-1949, Gallia Co. Ohio. None of these ladies quilted although it was thought Alice Simms' sisters did. It is not known who the quilters were.

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Crazy Quilt

When was the form filled out?

1994

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:

1876-1900

When was the quilt finished?

c1890

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

66"

How long is the quilt?

66"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Overall color scheme:

Dark colors; Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Poor/very worn

Describe the quilt's layout:

Crazy

Number of quilt blocks:

16

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Crazy pieced

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Silk thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the binding:

1/4"

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

FAD file 93.082 In the FAD file is a list of other items donated, mostly pieces of lace, doileys, beaded bags, hats and other stuff. There are Merry Silber appraisals of some of the quilts. There is a receipt from 1841 that includes calico, sewing cotton, ticking etc. There is an Ohio census from 1860, 1870, 1880 that mentions Alice Bay Simms. The quilts were inherited by John & Theresa Dickey from his mother and her sister: Ruth Simms Dickey 1894-1989 and Lillian Simms Suiter 1886-1987. They inherited them from their mother Alice Bay Simms 1864-1949, Gallia Co. Ohio. None of these ladies quilted although it was thought Alice Simms' sisters did. Not known who the quilters were. There are photos of Alice Evaline Simms at different ages (maybe 5, 13.) There is a photo of her taken in 1915 on her porch. The caption reads "Started housekeeping in 1885. Quilts inherited from her. Ruth & Lillian her children (Lillian died at 101 yrs. Ruth 95 yrs.)" Another photo shows her with her husband in 1915 on their porch. The caption reads, "Mr & Mrs Albert Gallatin Simms Photographed on the side porch of their farm home outside Crown City Ohio 1915 Started housekeeping 1885. Daughters Ruth (long hair photo) & lillian. He owned drygood store with brother in Ohio. Quilts inherited fro Alice & Albert Simms." The final photo shows "Sisters: showns long hair pinned up. Left: Lillian Simms Suiter 1886-1987 Ruth Simms Dickey 1894-1989 (you have her hair) Quilts inherited from Mother Alice Simms started housekeeping 1885) Their dad and his brother had general store shown in other photo"

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

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees

Cite this Quilt

Crazy Quilt. c1890. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6693. Accessed: 03/29/24