April 25 – May 4, 2002
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest:
- Frontier House Reactions — PBS’s living-history series “Frontier House” airs its final episodes, and members debate the historical accuracy of its clothing, textiles, and quilts.
- 1939 World’s Fair Quilt Contests — Members trace two separate 1939-40 New York World’s Fair needlework competitions sponsored by Good Housekeeping/Macy’s and a later Advisory Committee event.
- Amish Quilt Attribution — A member asks for help confirming whether a described quilt is genuinely Amish, drawing responses on regional Amish quiltmaking traditions.
- Donating Slide Collections — A member with decades of quilt slides and photographs asks where such a collection could be preserved, and is pointed toward museums, historical societies, and the American Quilt Study Group research library.
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 23:31:08 -0400 | From: “judygrow” <judygrow@>
I sent him a like message too. I wonder how many others of us did? Fess up now. As of a moment ago he had 103 hits on this book and not one bid. Some of those hits must have been from our listees. Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
—– Original Message —– From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@> Subject: QHL: Fw: Question for seller — Item #863109526
> Hello all-That ebay seller might have changed his tune because he got this > message from me- > > > > I am fairly sure that the patterns refered to (in spite of the photo-) are > NOT quilting patterns. Rather they are weaver’s notations dictating the > order for warping the loom and weaving homespun-type coverlets. That area of > the country had both home and professional coverlet weavers. Talk to someone > who collects early American woven coverlets (often referred to as overshot > coverlets). The book is an interesting piece of Americana and would do well > in a museum display of woven coverlets and looms. The price is awful stiff > however since I’ve seen these books in the $300-$400 range. Good luck with > your auction. > > Pepper Cory (a quilter and formerly a weaver)
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 17:24:48 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@
at this site there’s reference to a book about the Sears quilt contest at the 39 fair ww.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/Books/WFB/WFB-1939.html
________
PATCHWORK SOUVENIRS OF THE 1939 WORLD’S FAIR (1993) “The Sears National Quilt Contest and Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition”
By Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By: Rutledge Hill Press
ISBN: 1558532579
********************** at this site there’s a wonderful picture of a quilter holding her quilt for the 39 worlds fair http://www.wpi.edu/News/AtWPI/20012/feb07.html
jean L
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 10:35:05 -0400 | From: mreich@
Paducah is truly Mecca to the quilt world. The event which is nearing a one-week is at least a third larger than my last visit of about five years ago. If you are purely a quilt history enthusiast, the Paducah show may not be your cup of tea, however, you can’t help but be in awe of these primarily art quilts. I wonder if they can possibly be improved upon next year!!! It seemed to me that appliqué quilts and heavily-quilted quilts were the rule. A friend of mine who has a machine quilting business was there. She said that close to 55% of the quilts were machine quilted. For the purest among us, you need to know that they were all amazingly beautiful. I would love to be around in about two-hundred years to hear the discussions about these turn-of-the-millennium quilts. Xenia Cord’s booth of sought-after antique quilts was so attractive. I loved her collection of Featherweights all lined up, impeccably cleaned and maintained. I do believe that she had many QHLers stopping by to say Hi. The quilt museum had the Vermont quilts from their documentation on display. An added bonus was the gallery tour given by Richard Cleveland. He is so exuberant in telling the stories of past quiltmakers from his state. This was a definite highlight to the trip. The Rotary had the Mississippi quilts on displayed. I was amazed at all of their swirling designs. Another plus to this year’s show were the quilts from the Anchor Project. The invitational show of wall quilts hung in the lower ballroom. Every hallway, corridor, and the edges of the ballrooms were decorated with these red, white and blue sampler quilts made by blocks from quiltmakers all over the world. I understand they’ll all be auctioned off on Ebay beginning in May to benefit the 9-11 Fund. There is a book available with most of them. This bit of Americana is definitely worth owning. To the QHLers who had dinner with us at the Whaler’s Catch, thanks for coming. It was a little disorganized at first and perhaps we can do it a li ttle better next year in a quieter atmosphere with name tags. (I was thinking about the tents in front of the museum for a more picnic-type meal.) Any suggestions are welcome. We had fun anyway. Those Ohio girls are a hoot (Thanks again for the chocolate chip cookies which was my lunch as I ran from lecture to lecture on Friday.) They call themselves lurkers. It was fun to run into QHLers during the show. There is no way that I can describe Paducah as eloquently as Cinda when she shares her quilt ventures. Perhaps if each one of us share a memory with the group, those who could not attend will have a better idea of the event. Now back to the realities of life and back to my day job to pay for my quilting passion. From chilly Connecticut, sue reich
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 09:36:24 -0500 | From: “Jennifer Van Haaften” <jasvanhaaften@>
I am in a suburb near Chicago. I am wondering if this title below has a typo, because as I understand it, the Chicago’s World’s Fair in the 30s was in 1933 and part of 1934. There was a quilt contest during the Chicago 1933 World’s Fair, but I don’t have any information on New York’s World’s Fair, which someone said was in 1939.
Just checking.
>PATCHWORK SOUVENIRS OF THE 1939 WORLD’S FAIR (1993) >”The Sears National Quilt Contest and > Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition”
> By Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. *(Not Reviewed.)
Jennifer Van Haaften Elmhurst Historical Museum Elmhurst, IL
_________________________________________________________________
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 10:57:48 -0400 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judysue@>
There was also a World’s Fair in New York in 1939 – the book title below is incorrect – the date should be 1933. There was another Sears Quilt Contest called “American Through the Needle’s Eye” at the 1939-40 World’s Fair – the grand prize winner was Bertha Stenge, a much better choice than the controversial winner at the 1933 fair! The “Patchwork Souvenirs” book is a fascinating read . . . I highly recommend it.
At 10:36 AM 4/30/02, Jennifer Van Haaften wrote: >I am in a suburb near Chicago. I am wondering if this title below has a >typo, because as I understand it, the Chicago’s World’s Fair in the 30s >was in 1933 and part of 1934. There was a quilt contest during the Chicago >1933 World’s Fair, but I don’t have any information on New York’s World’s >Fair, which someone said was in 1939. > >Just checking. > >>PATCHWORK SOUVENIRS OF THE 1939 WORLD’S FAIR (1993) >>”The Sears National Quilt Contest and >> Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition” > >> By Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. *(Not Reviewed.) > > > >Jennifer Van Haaften >Elmhurst Historical Museum >Elmhurst, IL > >
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:02:08 -0700 | From: Gaye Ingram <GIngram@>
Did anyone take a look at the quilts used in the documentary “Frontier House,” the first installment of which aired on PBS last night?
I’d had a long, long day, but they looked like many well-known imports I’ve seen—in fact, I could have sworn a pineapple design was identical to one that is often listed on Ebay. Yet, given the general penchant for authenticity that seems to have gone into this production, that would seem unlikely.
As a southerner, I’ve always known I would find pioneering attractive only in those areas with good supplies of electricity and healthy air-conditioning units. My regard for real pioneers, which has always been high, skyrocketed as I watched last night’s episode.
From North Louisiana, where the old roses, clematis, and bearded iris paint the days and the first breaths of wild honeysuckle and privet blooms perfume the nights, Gaye
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 18:26:42 -0400 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
It’s a good thing I was born in the mid-20th century–if I was a frontier settler, I’d have died on the trail for sure! My ancestors made “the run” in Oklahoma, fought Indians (and married a few-), and crossed oceans to an unknown land. I am grateful to them and know in my heart of hearts, I’m a wimp. But so was that California family in the PBS series. I want to watch again tonight but my husband says he can’t stand ‘those whining teenagers.’ Keep me posted. In my prayers tonight, think I’ll add a few things to a growing gratitude list– electricity, aspirin, town garbage collection, and the genius who invented bagged salad! >From windy and beautiful North Carolina- Pepper Cory
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 20:16:55 EDT | From: Kathlash@
I also thought the quilts looked like imports…there was a Log Cabin Star I see listed on eBay all the time…kinda disappointing, but I’ll still keep watching. I hope Mrs. Tennessee gets over her PMS soon!
Kathleen Lashley
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 20:51:34 EDT | From: Trimble4@
I too was slightly disappointed with the quilts, but admit I gave up on the whole program about the time they set out into the wilderness. Maybe I was just grumpy but there did seem to be a lot of whining going on. I will give it another try though, don’t worry!
Lori
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 14:56:17 EDT | From: Edwaquilt@
Was there a quilt show at the 1939 NY World’s Fair. A friend of mine said his grandmother was asked to make a quilt for the fair. We are trying to get information about the exhibit.
Holice
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 23:22:05 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@
Re: QHL: Re: Frontier House
i thought the quilts like everything else looked genuine.. i can’t honestly believe after going to all the trouble to authenticate the life and times.. the production crew would have gone to Sears and bought imported quilts…
the major impossibility is selecting middleclass and upper middleclass, well educated people…then have them try to live a hard survival type life.. …..they ended up trying to live an 1883 life by 2001/2 standards… the only really relaxed people were Nate and his father, even the new wife started whining a week after she got there…. jeanL
it might have been better to have chosen poor people with a minimal education, who have always had to do without…..instead of people who really felt deprived by living the frontier life….
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 00:49:25 -0700 | From: Gaye Ingram
“i thought the quilts like everything else looked genuine.. i can’t honestly believe after going to all the trouble to authenticate the life and times.. the production crew would have gone to Sears and bought imported quilts..”
I took a long look at that log cabin star quilt tonight, and I agreed with KathLash: looked Ebay ramie import to me.. Was the pattern itself authentic?
The clothing was a different matter.
To paraphrase a song by LA native Jerry Lee Lewis, there was indeed a Whole Lot of Whining Going On.
Gaye
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 08:29:59 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@
what i meant.. was that everything looks like an authentic reproductions… the clothes, the quilts, the houses, the food products…the tools…the way of life..
the production company didn’t find clothes, quilts, tools etc…from that era and use them… nor did anyone step into a time machine.. jeanL
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 10:07:27 -0500 | From: “Jennifer Van Haaften”
I, for one, am not impressed by the Frontier House authenticity. I have been trying to get on PBS’s website to see who was involved with the production. I think I may have mentined that I have worked at living history sites prior to my current job. One of the living history sites I worked at was set in the 1880s. Let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, neither the “Sunday best” nor the working clothes seemed to me to be even good approximations of what people wore at the time. My husband and I have been taping the program, so we really haven’t watched it all the way through. But I have seen enough of the clothes to already write it off as not “authentic.” It would not surprise me if they had bought cheap quilt imports just to dress up the cabins in light of how the clothes turned out.
There is so much information out there, if you’re going to spend money on a production and claim it as “authentic” as possible, you should spend money on doing proper research. There are so many books and historical societies with photographs of people on farms and dressed up. There are primary sources with drawings of patterns (even good ones avaible as reprints from Dover) and with dress making hints and tips. Why couldn’t they get the authenticity right to the fullest degree possible?
And why didn’t they make the men and women keep their shirts on? I know it gets hot in those clothes, but wearing your chemise or going shirtless (in the case of the men) would be the equivalent of people today trying to farm in their underwear. I thought they did a nice job with the 1900 house, but I think the authenticity dropped immensely on this one.
I am afraid now this will be used in schools to show kids “what it was really like.” There are great living history sites that can show that better and with more authenticity (though there are some that are just as bad or worse as well).
One of these times, I’d like to see them get living history professionals to show how it’s done…
These are my opinions and not the opinions of anyone else. Please excuse my rant, if it seems such. Remember in 1883 though they were on the frontier in Montana, New York City had electricity already!
Jennifer Van Haaften Museum Educator
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 11:19:38 EDT | From: name withheld
RH Macy store and Good Housekeeping Magazine sponsored a quilt contest advertised in the Jan. 1939 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine as “Win A Trip to the NY World’s Fair.” Contest closed April 30, 1939. Theme -“Better Living in the World of Tomorrow” 1st Prize -.Round trip to New York World’s Fair. 2nd Prize- $300; 3rd Prize -$200. Ist Prize Winner was Mrs. Elsie G. Heller, Allegheny, PA for her quilt “POWER.”
(Controversy accompanied the 1939 quilt contest as the first prize was originally awarded to Jo Ro Betts for her quilt design “World of To-morrow”; the quilt made by Pearl Roberds. Because of a discrepancy on the quilt of the number of flags representing free nations of the world, the prize to Jo Ro Betts was rescinded. In later times her “World of Tomorrow” quilt was honored again.)
The following year-1940- The NY World’s Fair of 1940 Advisory Committee mounted a varied needlework competition, not confined to just quilts. Theme-“America Through the Needle’s Eye.” Prize monies were paid by various stores.. Grand Prize Winner for Old Work was Mrs. Bertha Stenge, Chicago for her quilt “Palm Leaf, Hosannah.” Prize money awarded was $500, paid by RH Macy. In the same contest the Grand Prize Winner for New Work was Mrs. E.N. Noble, Minneapolis, MN. for her crochet table cover. Prize money awarded was $500, paid by L.S. Donaldson store, Minneapolis. Cuesta Benberry
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 15:19:24 -0700 | From: “Susan Wildemuth”
Just a few words about the selection of people on the show. I agree with the person who said Nate and his father seemed to be the most relaxed of the entire group. I wish they would have picked one farm family. I was a city girl, married an Illinois farmer, and moved out onto the farm over 20 years ago. I love it on the farm, but it was a culture shock, the work, chores, and lifestyle, even in this day and age with all the modern conveniences, is unique. Any of you who grew up on a farm or married a farmer will back me up on this I know. I think a farm family would be a little better prepared for an adventure like this and maybe that’s why they didn’t choose one.
Have I ever seen someone “roll a cow” like that vet did? No, but I have milked a cow or two the old fashioned way. Let me tell you, you earn that milk.
As for the quilts, did any of you see the “pioneers” actually pick any of them to take on their trip? (Missed last night’s show-we were tux hunting for Prom).
Sue
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 01:50:38 -0500 | From: “Rebecca Sunderman”
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s opinions about this program. We’ve only managed, unfortunately, to watch one episode in its entirety, Tuesday night. Our television is old, the VCR older, and being on satellite, we don’t have the right hook-ups to tape it all. We also can’t afford to spring for PBS’ CDs at $50, so I hope to at least find a copy of Smithsonian mag at the bookshop, to read about the ‘aftermath’ of the families. If anyone has taped it, and would care to share a copy, though, I’d be happy to pay a nominal amount plus the cost of the tapes and postage ( hint, hint! )
My observations, questions, etc. – isn’t is strange that the two single men, starting off without any shelter save their tent, have quietly, diligently worked, with hardly a whine heard, and certainly nothing to match the other families’ catty remarks about their neighbors? Perhaps, as the father said, he is, in some way, coming full circle in his life, while the other families’ only frame of reference may have been the Walton’s, or ‘Green Acres’, Heaven forbid!
You’d think they would have done a bit of historical research themselves… I agree with the remark that at least one farm family should have had the chance to try this, but I doubt there are many farm families that could leave their farms for 5+ months. Perhaps that is the reason they didn’t make the show – they had far too much to lose. I also heartily agree that more research should have been done to make everything more authentic. As pointed out here, we know that, if nothing else, there is more than adequate documentation for replicating the clothing.
Another point, about the men and women removing their outer garments to work, did seem to be inconsistent with the show’s producers wanting the families to live as they did in the 1880’s. No man would ever allow his wife or teenage daughters to be seen in public in their underwear! What shameless scandal! Surely the person who instructed the women on their attire and (no) make-up would have mentioned something about keeping oneself decently covered, don’t you think? Apparently, these 21st century people are accustomed to partial (and full) nudity being the norm in society, so they thought nothing of it while on the prairie. Or, perhaps the producers sacrificed yet another bit of authenticity in favor of keeping viewers watching by allowing the women to show more flesh?
Perhaps there was a shot of at least one of the families actually reading a Holy Bible (other than when they opened their trunks prior to departing for the valley) or having some kind of religious service, other than the wedding, and I missed it, but I’d bet there was much more emphasis on that in 1883 than in 2002. Or, again, perhaps the producers, along with most of the media today, think that would have been far too politically incorrect, despite it’s authenticity. If all the whining, backbiting and selfishness does not make the viewer reflect on how spoiled most Americans are, and how far we’ve strayed from the values held by those in the late 19th century, then, imho, a huge point has been missed.
All the criticism aside, my dh and I both agreed that this series is one of the best things we’ve seen on television in quite awhile. I’d watch it again, given a choice between it and the programs which are filled with vile language, perverted lifestyles, sex outside of marriage, excessive violence, and the rest of the garbage that is cranked out of Hollywood these days. At least we can dream a bit, put ourselves in their shoes for a time, reconsider priorities, and not have our fingers on the remote, to mute or change channels if the children are watching, too.
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 10:04:33 EDT | From: name withheld
well frontier house is over and i really will miss all of the families.. generally speaking it seems like the men enjoyed it all, because they were living a primal masculine life…whereas the women who were living a primal female life..felt like drudges…. the thing i noticed mostly was that no one set a daily/weekly schedule(except for milking and feeding animals) they should have set time aside every day/week for cutting and splitting wood ..not just when they knew winter was about to arrive… karen glen is just an unhappy woman no matter where she is…she worries too much about what people have and what she doesn’t……i guess she’s the happiest in her church..surrounded by people who she feels, think the way she does…i had the feeling that her husband(soon to be ex) might end up, going back to montana…he really enjoyed it the most… as for the children…i think it will be an experience they will never forget… all in all it was great to have 6 hours of interesting TV.. jeanL
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 10:55:00 -0400 | From: Newbie Richardson
Dear all, I am afraid that the PBS production of “Frontier House” is just ‘Survior’ in non-profit clothing! The cast was chosen for the dramatic tension, not the ability to regress 130 years. Although annoying, the California family did illustrate the age old survival skills of ‘parasites’ – bringing a still shows the mind set. Today he is in manufacturing…! No the clothing is not accurate. Although it does give the nod to the visuals, but, as has been pointed out already, you would NEVER have even considered doing chores in your shift! Bare arms were out of the question as the standard for beauty was a very pale complexion.
<img align=”left” alt=”Dressed for the Photographer” border=”2″ height=”129″ src=”./02121_files/dressed_small.jpg” width=”100″/>Too bad these differing standards of behavior were not discussed. They had the perfect opening with all the whining about make-up. Once again, let me put in a plug for Joan Severa’s book: Dressed for the Photographer, Ordinary Americans and Fashion 1840 – 1900. The photos taken by the itinerant photographers during the last quarter of the 19th c. were spot on. This is truely a must have for any serious (amateur or professional) social historian. Pester your local library to get it! I am afraid we are seeing the beginning of the true “dumbing down” of PBS! So, withhold your financial support during their next fundraising drive and let them know why! Newbie
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 14:44:19 -0400 | From: “laurafisher”
The Frontier House quilts are the type that surfaces in the Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn catalogs. Looks like they chose them for their plaid flannel log cabin-y country look. It would have been easy for them to obtain authentic era quilts, given their devotion to authenticity in every other realm, including condoms! Oh well, at least they showed quilts as the bedcoverings….Laura Fisher —– Original Message —–
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 16:33:43 -0400 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
I watched the last installment and had some thoughts on this series. The CA family’s teenage girls eventually came through as tough little cookies and the wife was hanging on-gracefully-until she could get back to civilization. Dad got the biggest kick out of it. Somehow he seemed kind of slimey to me–must have been those stolen bedsprings! The TN woman and her mate were headed for Splitsville before they signed on for the gig. When someone “…doesn’t want to be a step-father-” and yet married a woman with three kids, the relationship probably was terminal. Hope the TN woman gets happy someday and that her husband finds a backbone. Speaking of backbone, I had to leave the room when he executed the pig. Every other day I vow to be a vegetarian and then relapse, usually on bacon. Loved the young couple. They seemed in love, a little loopy, and just free enough to make it. Liked that they were gypsies months after the show was over. Worried abot the youngest TN boy–he loved those animals and seemed so fragile and sweet. Nuff about TV–it only takes me from my quilting! Pepper from windy North Carolina — [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Cape Lookout Mail Server]
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 17:21:28 EDT | From: Trimble4@
In a message dated 5/2/02 4:45:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time, pepcory@ writes: << Somehow he seemed kind of slimey to me–must have been those stolen bedsprings! >> I will agree there…he was just a little scary to me. As for the youngest TN boy, I would expect him to be OK with the slaughter thing. It is a tough lesson to learn, some of us learn it a little later than others…and some end up vegetarians! I am not, in fact, a vegetarian, still love a steak, but I do remember having to LEAD a calf into the trailer to go to the butcher…according to my dad, that was the only way to get them to go anywhere…to let me lead. Yes, you do learn not to name them, or if you do, you learn not to make pets of them. All in all, I was disappointed with the show as a whole. I LOVED the idea, and really wish I could go do it, but only if I could pick my “family.” I really didn’t get the idea of why they picked whom to go (missed that part maybe?), but the challenge seems exciting to me. I felt sorry for Karen Glenn, and she’s really the only one…the young couple were adorable and I expect that they came closest to embodying the spirit of those who did go west. It was, at the very least, fun to have something different to watch, and especially fun to have people to “discuss” it with. Thanks all!! Lori–with another 90-degree south Florida day!
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 22:28:19 EDT | From: Edwaquilt@
Does anyone know where a 25+ yr supply of slides and pictures of quilts can be placed. Is there somewhere more worthy then the dumpster. I am cleaning out and hesitate to just dump if there is another place. Holice
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 23:15:04 EDT | From: Kittencat3@
I would suggest your local museum or historical society, especially if the pictures/ slides can be labelled. This could be priceless to a 21st or 22nd century quilter trying to do exactly what most of us on this list are doing right now…. Lisa Evans
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 21:19:56 -0800 | From: “Gloria Hanrahan” <gloria@>
How could someone tell if this was really an Amish quilt as described?
thanks, Gloria
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 06:20:43 EDT | From: JBQUILTOK@
Someone suggested a local museum or historical society as a place to donate quilt pictures & slides – Unless all the quilts were locally made or the museum has a strong quilt focus, I disagree. There are many of us with collections of pictures, patterns & quilts we consider too good to throw away. But face it: few of our collections are museum quality & it costs money to store them! And in a museum, few people have the time to look thru 100s of pics and slides – they want to see the real thing! I think a better way to get the collection into the hands of someone who would appreciate it would be to sell it at a reasonable price. At a quilt guild, quilt show, E-Bay or one of the ‘antique mall’ type of stores you are likely to find someone new to quilting and/or quilt history who would love to spend hours drooling over the pics at their leasure in their own home. Janet Bronston
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 04:26:29 -0700 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@>
I am enjoyed the Frontier House program. I’ve been reading a book called *Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey* for the past couple of days. The women in the book certainly whined in their diaries. They complained about the hard life. There were lots and lots of disagreements and downright hostility between families, too. So, those parts — the complaining and the family feuds — are right on the money. Also, many of the families who traveled across the continent in the Westward Journey were middle class folks with no farming experience. I am going to buy the companion book for the PBS show and hope to learn more about the production setup. Christine Thresh on an island in the California Delta
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 11:58:52 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Thanks Cuesta for the fascinating information on the 1939 quilt contests. Are there published pictures of any of the quilts you refer to? Cinda on the Eastern shore
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 13:19:30 -0400 | From: mreich@
For my money, I would say that it is an Amish quilt. I used to live in northeast Ohio near Amish country. I made at least two visits a year to Holmes County. The Amish quilts there differ from the Pennsylvania Amish ones. It has all the right looks to be an Ohio Amish quilt, however, it may not be very old. I purchased quilts that resemble this one in the 1970s and 1980s. Amish quilts have such a timeless appearance. The Ohio Amish frequently use synthetic blends in their quilts which tend to hold color longer than cottons. Someday, if you are in central Ohio, visit Mrs. Miller’s Dry Goods in Charm. The room to the right is where the Amish ladies shop. There you will find as many synthetic blends as you will cottons in those rich Amish solid colors. sue reich —–
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 13:47:37 -0500 | From: “Jennifer Van Haaften” <jasvanhaaften@>
Hi, it is so nice to have some other people besides myself and my local colleagues to discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies of Frontier House. I really don’t think I could watch it again, I just cannot get past the wearing of the underclothes only. Did you catch the newly wed bride wearing a bandana for a top and wearing her skirt low on her hips, plus braided pigtails? I had to laugh, because she took whatever was in her clothing ensemble and created a very fashionable 2001 look for herself! 🙂
Anyway, like I said, take heart, because we might see another historical “reality” show coming to us from Britain. Yay for the Brits! I have to compliment the regular British people participating in these historic experiments for sticking more closely to the rules and delivering more historically accurate “experiments.” The new show is called the Edwardian Country House, produced by Channel 4 in Britain and is actually showing right now. They have only had two shows so far. It portrays a wealthy landowning family from 1905 over a period of three months. It includes a servant staff as well. A family was chosen to live as the landed gentry and a variety of people were chosen as the servant staff. Check out the link below: http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/countryhouse/index.html
This is a great website too with lots of information and cool interactions. I think it is tons better and more easily navigable than the Frontier House. As it is, I can’t get PBS’s website to come up on my computer. For some reason it is really slow and doesn’t ever improve. I have to agree with the comment that Americans have become maybe far too spoiled and have lost sight of some of the things that make us proud of this country. Maybe Frontier House, like Survior, just shows us what is bad in our society today and doesn’t really show us anything about what life could have been like or that there are plenty of people who are cooperative and noble. Why producers of television shows don’t think that cooperative people accomplishing something together can’t be good television is beyond me. So enjoy checking out what the Brits have put together. Cheers, Jennifer Van Haaften (I second Newbie’s plug for Joan Severa’s book Dressed for the Photographer. Let’s try to get more people in the “general public” to know about it. I wish people who really want to portray or reenact American history during the time period of that book would start out their clothing research. It is a great overview with great photographic illustrations of just people of the time.)
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 14:42:50 -0700 | From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcw@>
Either of these two groups might be interested in your slides: American Quilt Study Research Library By Mail: American Quilt Study Group 35th and Holdrege, East Campus Loop P.O. Box 4737 Lincoln, NE 68504-0737 By phone: 402-472-5361 (Monday through Friday – 9 am – 5 pm) By fax: 402-472-5428 E-Mail: AQSG2@ Website: http://www2.h-net.@/~aqsg/ or Quilters Hall of Fame Box 681 Marion, Indiana 46952 765-664-9333 Telephone 765-664-9333 Fax E-Mail: quilters@ Website: www.quiltershalloffame.org Sue
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 23:07:28 +0100 | From: “Sally Ward” <Sally.D.Ward@>
This is indeed airing now and is compulsive viewing, particularly watching the ‘upstairs’ people unable to resist the temptation to ‘live their role’. ‘Downstairs’ is fraught with difficulties, and in particular they are finding it hard to keep a scullery maid, losing one per episode so far. There are the usual gripes about picking participants who will make good television rather than good re-enactment (whining scullery maid: ‘They expect me to get up at 5.00 and wash floors!’). But I am full of admiration for the French chef, creating an eight course meal for 30 with no trained help in an Edwardian kitchen while telling the camera ‘between you and me, we have to be careful we don’t poison people’ .
Last week he pointed out to a ‘whining teenager’ that he had always been a servant, was one now, and would be one in the future, and they had no idea what service was all about. An interesting comment in the first programme came from the ‘Lady of the house’ who in real life is an A&E doctor. She found the necessity to be dressed by a maid made her feel ‘curiously childlike’ and felt that the way of life meant she was just as constrained as the servants. But I bet she wouldn’t swap! Sally W
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 21:28:36 -0400 | From: “Teddy Pruett” <Aprayzer@>
Friends, I wrote this days ago only to find I’d been “dumped” by QHL due to an overfull mailbox. I’m gonna try to send again.
Oh my, did I do a double take at this subject line! I thought it said “renaissance TRailer” and I was picturing a double-wide done up in..well,,, we won’t go there. I couldnt wait to log on and see everyone’s impressions of Paducah, but have seen nothing at all. My mailbox filled while I was gone, and MSN dumped me. Since I have seen no QHL since Lynn began shopping for a washer, I’ll jump right in. It was particularly nice this year. For me, anyway. I worked in Xenia’s booth all week, which meant I couldn’t go out and waste money. That was a good thing. ALso, the quilts, what little I saw of them, were quite wonderful. Most years, I have only taken two or three photos of quilts which caught my eye for some particular reason or other, but this year there were many, many quilts that were fascinating. It seems to me that there were more pictorial quilts – many breathtaking – and quilts that might lean a bit toward the artsy side. I didnt’ see too many that made me think “Oh, boring, that again…” It was wonderful to meet so many people, many from QHL. We had a great supper together and put faces to screen names. I must tell you, since this is my personal report, that several said that I didn’t look at all like they thought. That is always fun to hear, as one may wonder how they are percieved by others. I was told by one gal ( name escapes me- sorry – I’ve slept since then) that she thought I woudl be more boyish. HAH!! I Laugh!!!
How would I describe myself? Totally Southern, overdone, too much makeup, too much perfume, I love flashy clothes and cars, and I have wild, white hair. BIG hair. Love it. Tottally tacky is terrific – that’s my motto. Sorry, I digress. The greatest part of the week was hanging with Xenia and getting to fondle the treasures in the Lagacy Quilts booth. oh, dear, it was such labor….ha ha ha. – you should all be so lucky. Throw me in that briar patch!!!
Tottally Tacky Teddy
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 21:56:36 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
I seem to be on the receiving end of much complimentary comment re: Paducah, and want to address my thanks to Sue Reich, Teddy Pruett, all of the members of PAAQT (appraisers) and the many other QHLers who made the weekend so much fun. Since I spent most of the week “face down in the cash drawer,” I am not the best person to assess the variety and perfection of the many competition and exhibit pieces, except to say that the exhibits of vintage quilts at MAQS and the Rotary were stunning. I join with others in saying how much fun and how successful the QHL dinner was – and for those of you who were reluctant to come because you “didn’t know anyone,” let me say again that none of us had met before, except on screen, so there was delight and surprise in matching names and faces. And I couldn’t let Teddy’s comment (below) pass without comment: <How would I describe myself? Totally Southern, overdone, too much makeup, too much perfume, I love flashy clothes and cars,> <and I have wild, white hair. BIG hair. Love it. Tottally tacky is terrific – that’s my motto. Sorry, I digress.> Those of you who met Teddy probably won’t agree with her “trailer trash” <Vbg> description of herself. Take it from someone who knows and greatly admires Teddy – she is lovely in person, delightful in personality, extremely talented in quiltmaking, and very gracious. (OK, Teddy, you can stop blushing and take your bow!) Xenia
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 23:41:28 -0700 | From: Gaye Ingram <GIngram@>
Americans have become maybe far too > spoiled and have lost sight of some of the things that make us proud of this > country. Maybe Frontier House, like Survior, just shows us what is bad in > our society today and doesn’t really show us anything about what life could > have been like or that there are plenty of people who are cooperative and > noble. Why producers of television shows don’t think that cooperative people > accomplishing something together can’t be good television is beyond me.
I watched all 3 parts of “Frontier House.” I enjoyed the production and encouraged my husband, who teaches a university history course on the opening of the frontier, to order it for his department. Because it enlightened me and made me appreciate the homesteading experience more, I feel obliged to put in a good word about the program. From watching it, I assumed the creators wished to challenge the romantic myth that the American frontier was a place where the difficulties of life created cooperativeness and neighborliness, qualities in which we see who we are—or who we wish to be–as a people.
Yet, as “Frontier House” suggests, the same frontiers that might have enhanced our democratic spirit might also help account for the fierce competitiveness and acquisitiveness that are also parts of the American mind. It can only improve our knowledge of ourselves as a people to test our happy theorizing. I felt that was largely the mission of this program. And personally, I thought the program achieved that purpose reasonably well. At least it readjusted my own vision of the western frontier, and I suspect that like the rest of this group, I’m more informed about the history and culture of the frontier than many in the intended audience.
For instance, I knew all about the sod-busting plow’s importance—in theory, anyway. I had seen one, knew how revolutionary the device was. But watching a person unaccustomed to using that plow (and most who moved from east of the Mississippi were unaccustomed to it)—well, that was a different matter. I had imagined folks’ tilling up neat rows, rather in the manner one could do in North Louisiana. That the family would find it easier to dig the soil made me understand what prairie soil is like and the problems it posed. Moreover, seeing the way isolation and the physical hardships of surviving in a raw country exacerbated already strained personal relationships gave me new insight into the people who survived homesteading.
When the personalities of my family conflict, I can sit down at my piano and play a Bach 3-part invention, listen to a Mozart piano concerto, tune in another world via television, go next door and visit a neighbor, pick up a needle, or get in the car and drive someplace that will give me a change of scene and a consequent change of perspective. In other words, I have many ways to diffuse the friction of a household. Not so in the frontier world, which must have been a pressure cooker. That knowledge gives me much more respect for those who failed as well as those who succeeded. It should not shock us that homesteading might magnify one’s selfishness, as it certainly seems to have done with the California husband who found it altogether too easy to rationalize his breaking the law and the rules of the project. Will we be surprised if that man’s children cheat in school and life and rationalize their actions on the grounds of private necessity? I would not want to employ a member of that family to represent my interests, certainly.
Yet, pioneering always tests people’s first principles, and many simply fail the test. That this family’s ethical threshold was so low might be a matter of legitimate concern, but I must believe many with similar thresholds were among 1880’s homesteaders. And the whining? Yes, I really did tire of that. So did the neighbors. And do we think there were no whiners among those who could not succeed as homesteaders? Yes, I noted some historical inaccuracies and as a lover of old quilts, that Eddie Bauer quilt jarred my sensibilities, but on balance, those seemed minor points. Were I working daily in restoration or reenactment, I’m sure I would have felt the jarring more. Yet, I can’t help but believe there were times when pioneers in all parts of our country violated the Victorian dress codes.
I grew up among older relatives whose families had pioneered in the 1880’s in central Louisiana, and I know the women were serious about covering up even in summer, though their decision was based partly on what they described as the “dangers” of prolonged exposure to the sun. But that girl’s use of the scarf struck me as true in principle, if not in detail. In fact, in the Old Southwest (Al, MS, TN, northern LA), arbitrary conventions were among the first things pioneers dumped from their wagons, a choice that might account for the relative social openness for which the region is still noted. Those older relatives of mine scorned nothing more than folks who “put on airs” by observing customs that no longer had a discernible purpose. If the isolation and hardship of pioneering could drive one to drink and to cheat, it seems reasonable it could also drive one to shed her blouse when the temperatures rose into the mid-90’s on a good haying day.
Certainly the three families were chosen for “production value” and dramatic possibilities. I doubt, for instance, many people who lived in elegant New York townhouses (now Malibu three-story on-the-sea homeowners) became homesteaders. Why would they? Yet, the point of this series was not to represent the world of the 1880’s in Montana. Instead, it was to awaken viewers in 2002 to the reality of that world. Thus, it made sense to show those effects in the lives of people of varying means, tastes, and assumptions. That they had demonstrated serious interest in this endeavor strongly suggests these people were themselves drawn to the frontier myth In other words, they were like most Americans. What really intrigued me about the final part of the series was the way the California family responded to their old home. They felt lost in its spaciousness. They yearned for a world in which family members worked and lived together—close together. They found boring the malls for which they had originally yearned. And (yes, I could not help laughing at little at these) they sought out real work ( lawnmowing), wanted to be active and independent in providing for themselves (that boy’s hunting those Malibu rabbits!), and yearned deeply for something meaningful which they had found in the circumstances of their life in Montana. And isn’t identifying that “something” what this series was about? And maybe why the frontier myth has such a compelling hold on all our imaginations? Call me simple, but my dog, my cat, and I sat still for 6 hours and lived in another world, one to which the dog (he barked at his peers on the screen) and I both responded and from which I, at least, emerged a more knowledgeable and respectful person. Boycott the PBS fund drive? Not me. Gaye Ingram
Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 08:15:01 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@
hear/read your post…. let’s not forget that although the california woman whined some…. she made 2 beautiful cakes(wedding and log cabin) and pieced a flag for the fair… and the california man made 2 rope beds…bonded with a son while fishing…and with his daughter and niece while haying… i too wasn’t concerned so much about authentic clothes and quilts as i was in human behavior… these were not members of communes..these were survivalists in primitive conditions.. i am a member of PBS, because i belive that cooperative TV is far superior to competive TV.. and i will be more than happy to continue my share of the funding … jeanL
Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 08:06:21 -0700 | From: chrisa@
Can any of you tell me about the pattern and company below- ABC Chicago and whether or not they offered quilt block kits? Brackman’s book says ABC Publications existed from Feb. 19 64 to March 1966, but I’m not sure if they are the same company. The latter was also called Little ‘n Big and did publish old patterns. Shirley McElderry added that ABC Publications was owned and operated by Claudine Moffat, in Valley Park MO and Betty Flack in Shumway Illiinois in the mid 60’s. They reprinted quilt patterns from the thirties of Orinne Johnson, Nancy Cabot, Nancy Page, etc. There is no mention of kits in her records. The border says {No.4258 Quilt block 18″ “Pond Lily” ABC Chicago Copy righted The pond lily block is an appliqué, with pre-cut pieces. It has four green lily pad shapes, with a blue tulip shape flower heads in-between them. These form a ring around the center which is a big blue flower head with softly spiked edges. Looks like a 20-30s pattern, but maybe is a 1960s repro? The owner of these blocks says there are vein lines on the leaves and lines on the small flowers for embroidery , Marks in the center of the flower for french knots, and lines drawn or printed from each of the small flowers and leaves for a stem to be either appliquéd or embroidered. There are blue dots for the stems, a double line. Thanks, Kim Wulfert
Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 18:30:21 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
I agree with Sue. It is definitely an Ohio Amish Quilt but my guess is that it is probably not as old as the seller is suggesting. I have been collecting Ohio Amish Quilts for close to 30 years and if I know nothing else, I do know something about these quilts. I also know that over the years an awful lot of these quilts have left the state of Ohio and quite a few were sold as 1030s examples. One of the strangest things I noticed over the years was how these quilts would get about ten years older for each state they passed through. Example, a quilt made in the 70’s or 80’s would be sold to a person from PA and as soon as it crossed the border it would somehow become a 40’s or 50’s quilt. Buy the time it got to NYC, it was a 30s quilt. Usually they didn’t get much older than that.
For some reason everyone thought it any Amish quilt could be sold as 1930s but no older. Besides, very, very few people could even begin to tell the difference and still can’t. Here is a little rule of thumb that although not foolproof can help. There were loosely, three color phases for Ohio Amish Quilts. The 19th century quilts were usually but not always, made with lots of brown or earthy colors. Quilts from 1900 to about 1925-30 used a lot of black especially for background and borders. Quilts from the late 20s and 30s used a lot of pastels. So my guess is that the quilt on bay is either earlier than 1930 or a lot later.
Now, there is one thing about this quilt that makes me think it is later and that is the use of light colored quilting thread. I can’t recall seeing this used in a quilt that was pre 30s. Therefore it is either a quilt made in the 30s using the darker colors of the earlier period or it is a quilt that was made much later using aspects of quilts from the 2nd and 3rd phases. I hope I’m not confusing you all. The bottom line is that unless you’ve handled lots of Amish quilts, it is pretty hard to tell for sure. I even get stumped once a while. I once bought a quilt that was made of black sateen with a pair of electric blue borders and wonderful quilting. These are referred to by the Amish as “Plain” quilts. There was no doubt in my mind that this was a 20’s quilt. Well, I got it home and hung it up to photograph and as soon as I turned on the photo floods, I found that the quilt was dated and it was dated 1952. Well, I sold it to a dealer and of course pointed out the date and years later, I saw the quilt being sold at a show and low and behold, it was being sold as a 1930s quilt. Go figure. Here’s another rule of thumb, “If it is being sold as 1930s and it isn’t pastel, be careful, it might not be very old”. They are still making them and some dealers are still selling them as 1930s. Darwin
