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Democratic Rose; Democratic Rose

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-7822

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:

99.0219

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

1998:53.20

Object label:

Democratic Rose
Elizabeth Harned Harriman and Mary Vida Schafer
Blocks made by Elizabeth Harned Harriman, 1923; finished by Mary Vida Schafer, 1972
Newport News, Virginia, and Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan
1923, 1972
Michigan State University Museum, acc/#1998:53.20

Essay:

Mary participated in numerous "round robins," the practice of swapping patterns with others through the mail. Through these exchanges of packages and letters, important friendships were formed and Mary became a part of an active network of quilters. Among Mary's correspondents were Joy Craddock of Dension, Texas, publisher of the 4J's; Glenna Boyd, publisher of Aunt Kate's Quilting Bee; Dolores Hinson, one of the founders of the National Quilt Association; and quilt historian Cuesta Benberry.

One of Mary's strongest friendships to grow out of the round robin exchanges was with Betty Harriman of Bunceton, Missouri. They never met in person, but their friendship flourished first through an exchange of letters and later through regular telephone converstations. The pair frequently worked on the same quilt design, each creating their own interpretation of a pattern. Following Betty's death in 1971, Mary purchased Betty's unfinished quilts and quilting ephemera from her family. Mary has completed at least sixteen of Betty's unfinished quilts. Bringing Betty's projects to completion continued Mary's tie to her friend.

By Mary Worrall from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

Interpretative Commentary:

The Democratic Rose was a favorite block pattern of Betty's. Mary designed the beautiful applique border and added small baskets as well. Setting the blocks on point provided an area for Mary's original feathered hearts quilting design. The final white border has Mary's trademark scallop and diagonal line quilting. Mary embroidered her name and the date she worked on it on one end of the quilt and, on the other end, Betty's name and the date Betty worked on it. -- Beth Donaldson

Additional Commentary:
The quilt was included in the exhibit American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, which toured in Japan from January-December 2003, and is illustrated on pg. 111 in the exhibit's catalogue, American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum. For more information about Betty Harriman, see Quilter's Journal, vol. IV, no. 4. -- Beth Donaldson

Quilt's title:

Democratic Rose

Owner's name for the quilt:

Democratic Rose

Biography of the quiltmaker?

See Mary Schafer and her quilts by Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham and Quilter's Journal, Vol. IV, No. 4 for more about Betty Harriman.

Quilt top made by:

Schafer, Mary set the blocks and made the border; Harriman, Betty made the blocks

Quilted by:

Schafer, Mary

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

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Flushing

Where the quilt was made, county:

Genesee

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

1950-1975

Further information concerning dates:

The quilt top was made by Betty Harriman in 1923 and completed by Mary Schafer in 1972, both dates appear in the inscription.

Why was the quilt made?

Memorial

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Flushing

Quiltmaker's county:

Genesee

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Vida

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Austrian

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Mary's father made her quit high school at age 15 to work in his creamery.

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Bottle washer, book keeper, telephone operator, home maker.

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Vida, Josef

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Austria

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Austrian

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Austria

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Austrian

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

German

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Welder for Buick Motors

Number of children:

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Fundraising; Pleasure

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Both Mary Schafer and Betty Harriman used quiltmaking to further the recording and teaching of women's history.

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

only informally

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

80 1/2

How long is the quilt?

97

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Lavender; Pink; Yellow; White

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Damage:

Fold marks or creases; Pencil or pen or marking lines; Stains

Type of inscription:

Signature

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Elizabeth Harriman

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label; Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on border

Describe where the inscription was found:

label sewn on back in ink

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

8

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

A wide white border, appliqued with baskets, vines and flowers.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

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

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

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:

Grid/crosshatch; Outline

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

1' parallel lines with scallop in border. Feathered heart in setting triangles. Appliques outlined on 1" hanging grid.

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

Eight blocks were appliqued by Betty Harriman in 1923. They were assembled, appliqued borders were designed and added and quilted by Mary Schafer in 1972.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Another quilt

Describe the source of the pattern:

The

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Carlie Sexton

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Images of quilt makers, interviews and ephemera.

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

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

Details

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Access and copyright information:

Restricted

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on this quilt?

Original to maker

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

All handwork.

Who photographed this quilt?

KEVA

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees

Cite this Quilt

Schafer, Mary set the blocks and made the border; Harriman, Betty made the block. Democratic Rose. 1950-1975. 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=12-8-7822. Accessed: 03/29/24

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