QUILT INDEX RECORD

33-29-50

Description of quilt:

Sailing Ship applique quilt.

Essay:

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. The contest organizers offered a bonus of $200 for an original design pertaining to the Century of Progress. This quilt may have been made as an original design. It does not have symbolism that other commemorative quilts in the contest had, but a replica of a sailing ship was anchored at the fair site. Notice on the right at mid point on the edge there is a ribbon. This quilt was probably photographed at the 1934 showing of commemorative quilts at the Fair. This is a Sears Archives photo.

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:

103

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Sailing Ship

What is inscribed on the quilt?

The official contest entry label includes contest entry information: Name of Maker. Pattern Name, When Quilt Was Made, Selling Price if willing to sell, Quilter's Name, Address, City and State, Sears Store Name/Number. Entry label also included the following statement: "I certify that this quilt is entirely of my own making, and that it has never been exhibited previously" to which the quilter signed her name.

Quilt top made by:

Unknown

Quilted by:

Unknown

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative; Challenge or Contest entry

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

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

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Probably exhibited at the Sears Pavilion at the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition during the summer months where it was photographed.

Contests entered:

Sears Quilt Contest, 1933 Chicago World's Fair

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

Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World's Fair (Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 1993)

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Who photographed this quilt?

Gary Heatherly

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Merikay Waldvogel