Ami's SOA Civil War Quilts: Era, Commemorative, Inspired

log cabin1 cwt.jpg


The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery’s new exhibition presents a fresh perspective on the Civil War by uncovering the fascinating stories of Illinois women who rigorously supported their fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, and friends from the home front. Civil War Quilters: Loyal Hearts of Illinois reveals the hidden accounts of these devoted women. The exhibition will be on display at the ISM Lockport Gallery through October 17, 2014.

Each quilt on exhibit has its own unique story and individual attributes, even though they were collectively created in the same time period. One is a particularly rare quilt that has recently received national attention: a Log Cabin quilt from Anna, Illinois, that was pieced together with fabrics including scraps from both Union and Confederate uniforms. The uniform scraps reportedly belonged to the maker's sons who fought on both sides of the war. An album quilt on display was made by Martha Jane Gourley (Gehlman), a close neighbor of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield. Miss Gourley's friends and family, whose names adorn this quilt, are from northern as well as southern states, representing the range of families who settled the "West," as Illinois was then considered.

The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is located on the first floor of the historic Norton Building at 201 West 10th Street in Lockport, Illinois, and is fully accessible to all physically challenged individuals. Museum hours are noon to 5:00 pm on Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Museum is closed Saturdays and State Holidays. Admission is free. For information on exhibitions and related programs, becoming a member of the Friends of the Lockport Gallery, directions, or to schedule a group tour of ten or more, please visit the museum online at http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/lockport/ or call (815) 838-7400. The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is part of the Illinois State Museum system, including sites in Springfield, Rend Lake, Chicago, and Lewistown.

http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/lockport/pressroom.html?NPR=1439
 
susan cwt.jpg


Little Sister's Quilt

Susan Theresa Holbert
1850-1860
Chester County, New York
National Museum of American History

Stenciled in the center of the lining of this quilt is “S. T. Holbert” which stands for Susan Theresa Holbert. Her older sister, Emily, made another quilt in the Smithsonian’s collection, the “Vanity of Vanities” quilt.” Might Emily have made this quilt for her younger sister as well? Or were they both accomplished quilt makers?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_556215
 
Here's another CW era quilt that people are making in our time -

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7236301_dear-jane-quilt_.html

and here is the original -

http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/stickle-quilt.html?searched=dear jane&advsearch=oneword&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight ajaxSearch_highlight1 ajaxSearch_highlight2

I'm always so happy to see that the wonderful needlework of earlier times is still
being done now. Like my updating antique recipes, they deserve to be preserved and brought back to life in our time.
Hi, Nancy. Thanks for your great post about the Dear Jane Quilt.

In the past, quilt posts have been scattered all over the Ladies' Tea Forum, so now we have a dedicated thread where everyone is invited and encouraged to place their posts. You may be interested in viewing it here:
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-quilts-era-commemorative-inspired.98231/

Welcome! :smile:
 
Last edited:
Hi, Nancy. Thanks for your great post about the Dear Jane Quilt.

In the past, quilt posts have been scattered all over the Ladies' Tea Forum, so we now have a dedicated thread where everyone is invited and encouraged to place their posts. You may be interested in viewing it here:
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-quilts-era-commemorative-inspired.98231/

Welcome! :smile:


Sorry about that chellers, I thought of putting this in that thread but it's so unique I decided it needed it's own spotlight.
Do you know who I should ask to whoosh this into the quilt thread (or can that even be done here?)
 
Sorry about that chellers, I thought of putting this in that thread but it's so unique I decided it needed it's own spotlight.
Do you know who I should ask to whoosh this into the quilt thread (or can that even be done here?)
No problem at all, Nancy. Indeed, the quilt is unique; it would come under the category of "inspired." Feel free to contact any moderator for assistance.

Thanks, again, for your very interesting post. I hope you will have more to share!:smile:
 
Last edited:
quilt eight pointed star cwt.jpg


Eight Pointed Star

Celia Elizabeth Damron Rich
c. 1865
Lincoln County, Tennessee
Tennessee State Library and Archives

"This quilt was made by my great, great grandmother on my father's side. She carded the cotton, made it into rolls, spun the thread and wove the cloth from which the quilt's lining was made. My great, great grandfather, Henry J. Rich, husband of Elizabeth, was a confederate soldier who fought and died in the Civil War."

http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=4C-83-324
 
Back
Top