QUILT INDEX RECORD

38-36-1648

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project

Who documented this quilt?

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project Number:

TUC140123

When was the documentation day held? Or when was the form collected?

09-03-2014

Where was the documentation day held?

Tucson, Arizona

1. Type of quilt object

Finished quilt

2. Designer's title:

Iris

3. Quilt Width:

82.25 inches

3. Quilt Length:

96.5 inches

4. Shape of edge:

Scalloped

5. Shape of Corners:

Straight

6. Overall color scheme:

Two color

7. Predominant Color(s):

Green; Yellow

9. Overall condition:

Fair/worn

10. Damage to quilt:

Dirty; Disintegration of fabric; Fading; Fold marks or creases; Stains; Tears or holes; Wear to edge or binding; Other

Other damage to quilt:

white fabric yellowed; light green disintegrating; bias flower stems are frayed; background torn and deteriorating

12. Comment or notes on quilt's condition or repair history:

back of quilt stains, wear to edge or binding

14. Date of Quilt:

1930-1949

Date quilt begun:

c. 1936

Date quilt completed:

c 1938

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c. 1936 - c. 1938

15. Source of Fabric:

Unknown

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

may be kit

16. Subject of the quilt:

Iris

17. Layout format:

Pictorial

18.3 Medallion Size (LxW, Diam):

applique center medallion with applique border; medallion size 37.5 x 25 inches

22. Borders:

1

22.2. Border descriptions:

Border is appliqued iris around edge (all sides) with no additional border pieces

23. Fiber used in quilt tops:

Cotton

24. Fabric patterns, styles, motifs, or print categories used in quilt top:

Solid/plain

25.1 Piecing techniques:

Machine Piecing

25.2 Applique techniques:

Hand Applique

25.4 Other construction technique:

need turn applique; background for applique is pieced

27.1. Materials used in binding:

Cotton

27.2. Fabric structure used in binding:

Plain weave

27.3. Construction techniques used in binding:

Hand sewn

27.5. Width of binding:

less than a half inch

28.1. Material used for quilt batting or filling:

Cotton

28.2. Batting loft:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

29.2. Quilted by:

Nichols, Edith

29.3. Quilting technique used:

Hand quilting

29.3.1. Thread color:

white

29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 1):

9

29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 2):

9

Distance between quilting lines:

.5 inches

Knots visible:

no

29.4.1. Motif/overall quilting patterns:

Echo; Other

29.4.2. Decorative quilting patterns:

Cables

Other quilting designs used:

echo of scallops; 4 parallel lines; additional flower medallion stitched in edge areas between applique flowers

31.1. Fabric fiber types used in quilt back:

Cotton

31.2. Color of backing:

White

31.3. Number of pieces in quilt back:

3

31.3. Size of pieces in quilt back:

25 x 96.5; 32 x 96.5; 25 x 96.5 inches

31.4. Description of back:

Solid/plain

1. Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Name of Quilt Owner:

Esther Ames

Quilt Owner's State:

Arizona (AZ)

Quilt Owner's Country:

United States

When was this object acquired? Under what circumstances?

Acquired 2009 from mother, whose mother, Edith, is the maker. I discussed directly with my grandmother, the maker, in the 80s.

2. Other related items such as publications, image, oral history, or ephemera:

Handwork while convalescing 1936-1938

3. Quilt maker's name:

Nichols, Edith Rose Wagner

Gender:

Female

Birth date:

01-31-1904

Marriage date:

03-28-1931

Death date:

12-23-1991

Educational Background:

Graduate of County Normal and Western State Teachers College in 1929 (now Western MI University)

Religious affiliation:

Methodist

Quilt maker's occupation:

Elementary Teacher

Quilt maker's birth city:

Benton Harbor

Quilt maker's birth state:

Michigan

Quilt maker's country of birth:

United States

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker grow up:

Rural

Quilt maker's maiden name:

Wagner

5. Father's name:

Wagner, Urban

Father's ethnic/tribal background:

German

Mother's name:

Wagner, Mary Morrill

Mother's birthplace:

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Mother's ethnic/tribal background:

American (dating back to 1632

Spouse's/spouses' name(s):

Nichols, Henry R

Spouse's/spouses' ethnic/tribal background:

American (centennial farm in Bainbridge Township, Berrien Co., MI)

Number of children:

2

Number of female children:

1

Number of male children:

1

6. How did the maker learn to quilt:

From Relative

When learned to quilt:

Age 30-39

Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt?

Therapy

Explain how and/or why the maker quilts:

Edith's mother-in-law was a prolific quilter. Quilted while convalescing. This is only quilt she ever made.

8. Estimated number of quilts made:

1-5 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Describe the quiltmaker's unique or favorite materials, patterns, quilting techniques, etc.:

A seamstress, she made clothing, stuffed animals, doll clothes. This is only quilt she ever made.

Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs, or rhymes used by the quilt maker:

Owner's mother told of quilting bees at their farm home (1930's, 1940's), children threading needles sitting under the quilting frame, how the frame could be raised up to the living room ceiling - out of the way.

Any other notes or stories about the quilt maker:

Most quilts from the family were by Grace Ingraham Nichols, member of the Spinks Corners and church quilting groups.) (?In collection of N. Berrien Museum, Coloma, MI?)

9. Available sources for the quilt maker:

Neighborhood quilters, quilting bee, mother-in-law. Edith was a N.S.D.A.R. member; appreciated and used all the quilts she owned (dozens).

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project

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