QUILT INDEX RECORD

2-33-64

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Signature Quilt Pilot Project

Who documented this quilt?

Signature Quilt Project Public Submission

Signature Quilt Pilot Project Number:

1997.007.0697

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Album "My Sweet Sister Emma"

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Nine Patch Variation

How wide is the quilt?

109 inches

How long is the quilt?

107 inches

What color is the quilt?

Yellow

Type of inscription:

Date; Multiple Names; Place; Other

Describe the type of inscription:

Hand-drawn images of angels, fruit, a Bible eagles and a woman praying among others.

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Some of the names inscribed in ink on the various block appear to be stamped and others appear to be hand-written. Dates, locations and a number of hand-drawn images accompany the names. A selection of names inscribed on the quilt include the following: Anna Brinkle Elizabeth Brinkle Margaret Caldwell Elizabeth Crozer George Knowles Crozer Catherine W. Graff Ann Knowles Charlotte Knowles Eliza B. Knowles George G. Knowles James P. Knowles Lydia P. Knowles Martha Ann Knowles William G. Knowles Eleanor Jane Miller Rev. g. Parks Alma Pary Helen Patterson Alice Pearson Lydia Phillips Capt. James Serrill Ann G. Thomas Henrietta Thomas Sam Thomas Susan Thomas Louisa Wilson Mary Wilson

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1844

Method used to make the inscription:

Ink

Location of inscription:

multiple locations

Describe where the inscription was found:

On reverse in cross stitch: "From M.A. Knowles, to her Sweet Sister Emma, Darby, 1844"

Time period:

1800-1849

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1843, 1844

Further information concerning dates:

Date is inscribed on quilt

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Novelty techniques used to make the quilt top:

Other novelty technique

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

Some fabrics "fussy-cut" to feature designs in the fabric.

Quilt top made by:

Martha Ann Knowles

Other people who worked on this quilt:

Henrietta Graff Thomas

Where the quilt was made, city:

Darby

Where the quilt was made, county:

Hunterdon County

Where the quilt was made, state:

Pennsylvania

Where the quilt was made, province:

other locations inscribed

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

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

"From M.A. Knowles; To her sweet sister Emma. Darby--1843."

Why was the quilt made?

Wedding

Describe the source of the pattern:

Unknown

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

Photos of Emma Warfield Shepherd and her husband Thomas Shepherd. Photos of Martha Warfield Knowles Photo of Longwood, the Warfield home

Quilt owner's name:

International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Lincoln

Quilt owner's state:

Nebraska

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Description of quilt:

Sixty-four inscribed blocks interspersed with setting blocks of bright yellow calico fabric. Most blocks include signatures and Biblical verses. Many of the individuals were members of the St. David's Episcopal church in Darby , Pennsylvania. The quilt was made for Emma Warfield Sheppard, sister of Martha Warfield Knowles. On the reverse in tiny cross-stitched letters an inscription reads "From M.A. Knowles; To her sweet sister Emma. Darby--1843."

Essay:

Emma Warfield was the daughter of Dr. Gustavus Warfield of the Glenwood, Maryland, area, and Mary Thomas, whose family was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Emma was born in "Longwood Cottage" on her father's estate near Glenwood, Maryland, as the main house was being built on 20 Apr 1820. Her older siblings, including her sister Martha Ann (b. 6 Aug 1814), one of the makers of the quilt, were born at their grandfather's estate, "Bushy Park" a few miles north of Glenwood. They grew up at the "Longwood" estate and all of the daughters were married there, including Martha Ann who married Dr. William Gray Knowles on 27 Oct 1835 and Emma who married Rev. Dr. Thomas J Shepherd on 10 June 1846. Emma's father helped build a new church in Lisbon, Maryland, just a few miles northeast of their family estate. Rev. Shepherd was called there to preach. After he and Emma were married, they lived with her family until sometime after 1850 and then moved to their own home in Lisbon, nearer the church. They moved later to Philadelphia, where Rev. Shepherd continued to preach; he also wrote several books. He died 1 Dec 1898 and was buried in her family's cemetery lot at "Longwood." Emma died 13 Nov 1914 and was buried next to her husband on the family's estate. Martha Ann Warfield Knowles and her husband lived in or near Darby, Pennsylvania. She continued to make other quilts with family names. One example is currently in the possession of a descendant. The second known maker was Henrietta Graff Thomas, born 3 Feb 1808 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and married 11 Apr 1832 to Samuel Thomas of Baltimore, Maryland. Samuel was the brother of Emma's mother, Mary Thomas Warfield. According to one of the notes accompanying the quilt, Henrietta was said to be the artist responsible for the inked sketches that accompany the inscriptions. The quilt was made for and given to Emma, presumably for her wedding chest as she married Rev. Shepherd soon after. Since she had no children, she left the quilt in her will to her cousin and namesake, Emma Warfield (Thomas) Eastwick (b.1847 m.1870 d.1933), the daughter of Henrietta and Samuel Thomas. Emma Eastwick wrote a note on 6 Nov 1930 stating that she wanted the quilt to go to her daughter, Mary Emma (Eastwick) Lewis (b.1879 d.1980) of Beverly, New Jersey. Another note that came with the quilt was written by Mary's daughter, Dorothy E. Lewis (b.1901 d.1989) identifying the artist as her great-grandmother (Henrietta G. Thomas). The quilt was sold at Christie's in 1992, to Robert and Ardis James, presumably by a descendant of Dorothy Lewis.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

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