QUILT INDEX RECORD

30-26-55

Date data collected:

March 31, 2010

Documentation Location:

Private Home

In which county does this quilt currently reside?

Beaver

Owner's Name:

Michigan State University Museum

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Who documented this quilt?

Western Pennsylvania Quilt Documentation Project; McCarl Collection; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation

Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation Quilt Documentation Number:

WP.BVR.0219

Alternate inventory control number:

2013:3.3

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation

This is a:

Finished quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Album

How wide is the quilt?

77 3/4"

How long is the quilt?

92"

Shape of edge:

Scalloped

Shape of corners:

Scalloped

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Discoloration or dyes ran; Fading; Fold marks or creases; Stains; Wear to edge or binding

Describe the repairs:

Repairs to binding

What is inscribed on the quilt?

On top: WE WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS MRS HAFF 1873 - Harriet Smith signed this block -- On back of quilt - all letters edges are turned under - letters hand stitched on & then machine stitched around

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery; Stamped

Location of inscription:

on block

Describe where the inscription was found:

Names embroidered or stamped on random blocks; Mary Young, E. Hubbard, Nellie Bolr--ier, S G Benjamin, Mahala.Thurber, Sophis J. Wirk, Mary K. Smith

Time period:

1850-1875

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

30

Size of quilt blocks:

14 1/2" x 15"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the quilt setting:

1.) star appliques - 2 stars on top of each other; 2.) bows - colored

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Sampler

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

1 border 2 3/4" wide - scalloped border machine stitched on front & then hand turned under on back

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth; Muslin

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Background is broadcloth - Muslin is red

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Machine Applique

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Stitching invisible on Merry Christmas

Embellishments used:

Metallic thread

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

Center of flowers

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

30 pieces & border

Describe the back:

Different fabrics; Hand sewn; Machine sewn; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain; Front turned to back; Hand sewn

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

less than a half inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

1/4" - applied

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

Describe the quilt filling:

Batting in border

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

Cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

White

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid square

Describe the quilting designs used:

Wave quilting on fleur-de-lis Free quilting designs

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

Pieced block - pieced whole quilt Variation in quality of blocks - quilted & added border

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner; Quilt collector

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt collector; Quilt owner

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

Purchased the quilt

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt was purchased at the Pook & Pook, Inc. auction on 1/12/2013, at Dowington, PA. It was formerly owned by Muriel McCarl and was part of the McCarl Collection.

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

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

Muriel and Foster McCarl (Beaver Falls, PA) started collecting quilts in the 1950's. They purchased quilts from the Lancaster, PA area as well as in Delaware and Medina, OH. They purchased the quilts from Auction Houses such as Garth's (Delaware,OH); Pennypackers(Lancaster, PA); and Horst Auctions (Ephrata,PA). They also purchased quilts from many dealers such as George and Mildred Samaha, Sr; George Samaha, Jr.(Medina, OH); Hattie Brunner (Lancaster, PA); Fran and Elise Beaven (New Jersey);Dave and Maze Pottinger (Michigan). The McCarl's loved antiques that were signed and dated. They felt that the signatures enhanced the value of the item.

Description of quilt:

We Wish You A Merry Christmas Mrs. Haff
Maker unknown
Provenance unknown
1873
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2013:3.3

Essay:

This quilt was once part of the McCarl Collection. Muriel and Foster McCarl started collecting quilts in the 1950's. They purchased quilts from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area as well as in Delaware and Medina, Ohio.

This quilt is unusual for its time. Each block was machine quilted before they were set together to make the quilt. Some of the blocks are inscribed: We Wish You Merry Christmas Mrs Haff 1873 (appliqued); Harriet Smith, Mary Young, E. Hubbard, Nellie Bolr--ier, S G Benjamin, Mahala.Thurber, Sophis J. Wirk, Mary K. Smith (inked and embroidered).