QUILT INDEX RECORD

33-29-33

Description of quilt:

Century of Progress Message in Pieced Blocks

Essay:

This quilt is cleverly constructed with a message welcoming visitors to the Century Of Progress Exposition. Made of cotton fabrics from the turn of 20th century, one might suspect it was made by a quiltmaker who was in her 50s or 60s at the time of the contest in 1933. It was probably made hoping to win the bonus prize of $250. The center shield carries Chicago symbolism. The 1933 Sears National Quilt Contest was announced in January 1933 with a deadline of May 15, 1933. Over 24,000 quilts were entered at local Sears stores or sent to one of 10 regional mail order houses. Quilts were judged at each site with the top three winners moving onto the next round. Finally just 30 quilts reached the final judging held at the Sears Pavilion on the 1933 Chicago World's Fair site.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project; Sears Quilt Contest 1933 Chicago World's Fair

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project Number:

160

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

When was the form filled out?

Sept 1995

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt owner

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

Purchased the quilt

Who helped you fill out the form?

Merikay Waldvogel

Location of data collection:

Waldvogel Collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

I Will Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

76 inches

How long is the quilt?

81 inches

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; Brown; Cream; Maroon; Pink; Red; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Type of inscription:

Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Right Vertical Message: WELCOME Left Vertical Message: VISITORS Horizontal Messages Top to Bottom: CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXPOSITION 19 33 I WILL CHICAGO ILLINOIS

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1933

Method used to make the inscription:

Other

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

Pieced Block Letters

Location of inscription:

multiple locations

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt started?

1933

When was the quilt finished?

1933

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Subject of the quilt:

Century of Progress Exposition

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Wool

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Conversation Prints; Multiple scrap

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

This quilt is basically a Postage Stamp style utility quilt made of leftover scraps. The batting is a used blanket.

What color is the back of the quilt?

Cream

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting; Machine quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

In-the-ditch

Describe the quilting designs used:

There is minimal hand quilting. Quilting is "stitch in the ditch" to outline the letters and straight lines in remainder of the quilt.

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

Without the references to the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, this quilt might be dated to the late 1800s or early 1900s based on the type of print fabrics it contains. The Shield in the center carries Chicago's city logo "I Will," the Y refers to the Chicago River, and the two red stars represent the Chicago Fire and the 1893 World's Fair. Note, a third red star was added to the Chicago Flag to represent the 1933 World's Fair.

Quilt top made by:

Ortt, Amy

Quilted by:

Ortt, Amy

Where the quilt was made, city:

Moline

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

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

Janette Dwyer of Atkinson, Illinois acquired the quilt for $24 at an estate auction in Cambridge, Illinois in 1995. As reported in Antique Week-Central Edition (April 7, 1997), "She thought at the time the quilt was 'just a scrappy patchwork thing,' but says now the find has changed her life. "'It has taken me on quite an odyssey. In addition to reading everything I can find about the Century of Progress Exposition, I have turned into a World's Fair junkie,' she noted. "The estate auction disposed of the household goods of a former Compton, Illinois resident who died childless. "And the Century of Progress quilt was one of two 'absolutely filthy' quilts rolled up and stuffed beneath a table,' Dwyer said. "'I was quite surprised to see them treated like that because auctioneers generally know the value of old quilts,' she said. 'But these two quilts were really, really dirty. That may have been the reason they were not recognized for the treasures they are.' "Dwyer pulled the quilts from under the table, checked them over and liked what she saw. Knowing her fabrics, she realized the quilts were made of materials from the 1860s to about 1930. "She bid on the quilts and got them at $24 each." "Later at home, she and her sister carefully went over both quilts. They first found the words, VISITORS WELCOME, worked vertically. Then they made out the wording on which the design was centered--CENTURY OF PROGRESS 1933 CHICAGO ILLINOIS."

Why was the quilt made?

Challenge or Contest entry

Quilt is presently used as:

Other

Describe present uses of the quilt:

Used for exhibits and owner's lectures

Where did the maker get their materials?

Sewing scraps

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Spring Quilt Festival, Rosemont, Illinois.

Contests entered:

Sears National Quilt Contest, 1933 Chicago World's Fair

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

Information about the quiltmaker comes from the 1930 United States Census. In 1930, Amy Ortt (age 60, widow) is listed as head of household with three adult children. She is renting.

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

Published articles: Antique Week (Central Edition) April 7, 1997. Susan Wildemuth "A Quiltmaker Uncovers Buried Treasure" in QUILT (Spring 1997), 60-61, 195.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Janette Dwyer

Quilt owner's city:

Atkinson

Quilt owner's state:

Illinois (IL)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

1870

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's county:

Carroll

Quiltmaker's city:

York Township

Quiltmaker's state:

Illinois (IL)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Who photographed this quilt?

Merikay Waldvogel

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Merikay Waldvogel