Quilt Stories
The Fenton History Center's newest exhibit features quilts from the Center's collections. Over forty quilts of all sizes and materials add to the local history story; many on exhibit were sewn by local women and reflect the lives they lived. Quilts, as we know them today, became popular during the early 19th century. They not only served a utilitarian function in the household, but also were a means of expression for women beyond the printed word. Today quilting is still a very popular artistic outlet for all ages.
Starting with the beautiful, but simple whole cloth quilts and progressing through the Civil War depravations, to the flamboyant crazy quilts, the exhibit provides a visible timeline of the changes in quilting over the centuries. The earliest quilts were whole cloth quilts. They have been made for hundreds of years from the finest silk and linen to the roughest homespun fabrics. They are just as their name suggests, made from two pieces of cloth, a "whole" piece, not individual pieces sewn together.
The signature quilt emerged in the 1840s and 50s, a time when a mass migration westward took place in our country. The quilts were based on friendship. They were made as memorials for the leaving family.
During the Civil War, Union soldiers had urgent need for clothing and blankets. Women first donated family quilts, but then began to sew specifically for the war effort. The military requested quilts be suitable for a military cot and a bedding pack; four feet wide by seven feet long. Over 250,000 such quilts were made for the troops. Very few remain intact today.
There was also a need for funds to help local soldiers. Women used their talents to raise funds by raffling off quilts or selling a signature space on a quilt. Signature quilts became very popular. Sometimes an entire family would sign one block each. More often a quilt was signed with hundreds of signatures and then raffled off, bringing in as many funds as possible from a single quilt. Stories are told about quilts being re-donated by raffle winners, two or three times over, so that the one quilt could make as much money as possible for the cause they all believed in.
Women continued to use signature quilts after the war to showcase their political and religious beliefs. The exhibit has a number of examples of these signature quilts on display from the South Stockton Political Equality Club (a suffrage movement group), the Bemus Point United Methodist Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
The crazy quilt got its start at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 as a form of interior art. The crazy quilt was popular into the 1920s. They are truly unique creations that are a combination of whimsical motifs, embroidery, painted fabric, and any variety of materials.
Redwork quilts were also very popular from the late 1800s through the 1920s. The white muslin squares, which were stamped with patterns, were sold for a penny a piece. They were good for teaching young girls embroidery. The stamped patterns were stitched with red thread and then the quilt top was assembled. A number of redwork quilts are on view in the exhibit.
Other quilt styles in the exhibit are appliqué, utility, doll and a wide array of patterns such as Dresden plate, grandmother's fan, cherry basket and pineapple.
The exhibit will run through April 30, 2010. The Fenton History Center is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Special tours can be arranged by calling 664-6256.
