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
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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