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Freedom to Dream Quilt; Freedom to Dream

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-104

Who documented this quilt?

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

Texas Quilt Search Number:

tqs_0135

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

This quilt was reviewed and documented during the Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association's Phase II of the Texas Quilt Search, 1986-1989. Karey Bresenhan served as quilt historian.

When was the form filled out?

1986-1990

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

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed quilt motif; Designed the pattern

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

This quilt is presently owned by the quiltmaker.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Freedom to Dream Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Freedom to Dream

How wide is the quilt?

72 in.

How long is the quilt?

72 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Blue or Navy; Brown; Cream; Gray; Green; Orange; Rust

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

12/23/1985

When was the quilt finished?

Spring, 1986

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1986

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Subject of the quilt:

Statue of Liberty

Number of quilt blocks:

framed pictorial medallion

Number of borders:

2 multiple-pieced borders

Describe the borders:

inner border of 580 one and one-half inch squares "depicting the earth, from the white plains to the red earth of Oklahoma, and the wildflowers found in every state of the union"; outer border is printed paisley

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Paisley; Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

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

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

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?

Medium (3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

browns, blues

Width between quilting lines:

2 in.

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

outline quilting around designs; quilting to create ocean waves, clouds, dimensions in roadway

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

This original design was made by Anita Murphy as her entry for the Great American Quilt Contest Honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. The pictorial design depicts her idea of "The Freedom to Dream." It contains an airplane as a reminder of the first time she saw the Statue of Liberty (she was an airline hostess and had earned travel miles for a trip to New York; the pilot tipped the plane just so Mrs. Murphy could see the Statue of Liberty). The ship at the dock commemorates her husband's Mother, who was born on board a ship waiting to dock. The log cabin depicts the humble beginnings of many new immigrants. The quilts in the design represent the warm and comfort quilts bring to our lives. Finally, the little boy at dock's edge is not fishing--he is dreaming of what he can grow up to become as an American with the right to be free.

Quilt top made by:

Murphy, Marie Anita Wingate

Quilted by:

Murphy, Marie Anita Wingate

Where the quilt was made, city:

Kountze

Where the quilt was made, county:

Hardin

Where the quilt was made, state:

Texas (TX)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Mrs. Murphy grew up making quilts; she founded the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild in Beaumont, and this quilt was selected the Texas state winner at the Statue of Liberty Centennial Quilt Contest. Mrs. Murphy completed this quilt in thirty-six days while her husband was in the hospital with an illness that later claimed his life. She notes: "James's encouragement and pride in what I made and the designs I have created were as good or better than most art classes."

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

Mrs. Murphy's quilt was selected to represent Texas in the Statue of Liberty Centennial quilt contest. Following its selection, she was invited to meet then Texas Governor Mark White, and later she met Vice President George Bush and Mrs. Bush. Along with other state winners, she was invited to New York City to attend the premiere exhibit of the quilts before they left on tour across the U.S. and to four cities in Japan.

Why was the quilt made?

Challenge or Contest entry

Details about why the quilt was made:

entry in Statue of Liberty Centennial quilt contest

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging; Keepsake/memento; Study or teaching aid

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

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

Mrs. Murphy made this quilt in 36 days while at the foot of her husband's hospital bed in 1986. She notes: "The nurses kept me going with "hot tea" & much encouragement from the Drs. . . . they were so proud I was the "Texas" winner & they saw it develop under their watchful eye."

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Toured several American cities and four cities in Japan in 1986 in "Statue of Liberty Centennial Quilt Contest"; “Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, 1936-1986,” 16th Annual International Quilt Festival, November, 1990, Houston, Texas.

Contests entered:

Texas state winner, 1986 in "Statue of Liberty Centennial Quilt Contest."

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

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search Archives

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

Bresenhan, Karoline Patterson and Nancy O'Bryant Puentes, Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, Vol. II, 1936-1986 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1990), p. 170-171.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Murphy, Marie Anita Wingate

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Wingate, Marie Anita

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

05/15/1927

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Kansas City

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Kansas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's occupation:

retired airline hostess, busiess woman; profession quilter/teacher

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's state:

Texas (TX)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

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

businessman

Number of children:

5

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Relative; Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Under 10 years of age

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Gifts; Income; Pleasure; Other

Notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Mrs. Murphy states about her quilting and teaching: "I love to share, encourage, and confirm in each student their ability to grow and learn to be proud of their accomplishments."

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

founder of Golden Triangle Quilt Guild

Where does/did the group meet?

Beaumont, Texas

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Murphy made her first quilt at age seven--a doll quilt. She notes that she has "enjoyed a lifetime of stitchery and crafts" and is a self-taught seamstress.

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale

Details

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Cite this Quilt

Murphy, Marie Anita Wingat. Freedom to Dream Quilt. Spring, 1986. From Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=25-21-104. Accessed: 03/29/24