QUILT INDEX RECORD

15-11-1978

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Who documented this quilt?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Wisconsin Quilt History Project Number:

A246

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

When was the form filled out?

11-16-2003

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

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

Made the quilt

Interviewer:

E. Johnson

Where was the quilt documentation day held?

Milwaukee Art Museum

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Diary Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

One Patch Rectangles

How wide is the quilt?

77 in.

How long is the quilt?

112.5 in

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label; Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1992

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1992

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Subject of the quilt:

Quilt documents the first year of widowhood for the maker.

Size of quilt blocks:

4 in x 4 in

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Strippy or vertical bands (in vertical rows separated by plain vertical bars)

Sashing width:

2in

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Top and bottom borders are 3 in. Side borders are 5in. Borders are black.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Checked; Dotted; Floral; Geometric; Multiple scrap; Novelty; Plaid; Print; Printed patchwork; Solid/plain; Striped

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing

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

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Describe the back:

Print

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

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

The binding is pieced from scraps of the lattice colors.

Quilt top made by:

Johnson, Elrid Benson

Quilted by:

Johnson, Elrid Benson

Where the quilt was made, city:

Brookfield

Where the quilt was made, county:

Waukesha

Where the quilt was made, state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

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

The quilt was made to document the first year after the quiltmaker had been widowed. There is one block for every day. The quiltmaker made a block every day representing something of the day. An ugly fabric represented "bad" days. Each strip represents a month. the colors of the sashing between the strips go from white (for January) through greens and blues and back to white again for December. The quiltmaker has a journal she kept the year quilt was made.

Why was the quilt made?

Memorial

Where did the maker get their materials?

Sewing scraps

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Describe the source of the pattern:

inspired by a lecture by quilt teacher Nancy Halpern at WQI in 1991.

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

Public domain

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Quiltmaker kept a journal about this quilt. This quilt was used in a story in the newsletter of the WQHP. A copy of an article about the quilt from March 25, 1993, is with the documentation papers. The owner has pictures available.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Benson

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Norwegian, German

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Homemaker

Quiltmaker's city:

Brookfield

Quiltmaker's state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Benson, Bjarne Andrew

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Norwegian

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Benson, Etah Hottendorff

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

German

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Johnson, Ward Whitney

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

insurance claims investigator

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Details

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