Depression Era Quilts in Nebraska

Patterns and Kits The production and selling of quilt patterns, quilt kits, and quilting supplies thrived during this era. Newspaper and magazine columns featured quilt patterns produced by well-known quilt designers such as Marie Webster, Rose Kretsinger, Anne Orr, and Ruby McKim. Other columns evoked nostalgia by attributing their designs to fictional characters with familial names like Aunt Martha or Grandmother Clark. Pattern publishers often used existing patterns as their own with little more than a name change. Many newspaper readers thought syndicated patterns were unique to that particular paper. Patterns also came in books and as part of quilt supply packaging-most famously with the packaging of Mountain Mist quilt batting. For those who could afford it, companies began to sell stamped patterns and stencils, pre-cut fabric pieces, assembled blocks, and even completely assembled quilts. Some scholars believe all of this led to the decline of regional and familial quilting styles and promoted a generic national quilt aesthetic. Home Arts Needlecraft, January 1936 (pdf) Nebraska Farmer magazine, May 1933 Nebraska Farmer magazine, April 1933 Mosaic/Flower Garden Mother of Irma Cruse Made in Hastings, Nebraska 1930s-1940s 97" x 69" Hastings Museum 35071 Tulip & Morning Glory May Walker & Minnie Goodwin Made in Lincoln, Nebraska 1931 85" x 85" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: David D. Whitney, Lincoln 6081-107 Post-World War I improvements in synthetic dye manufacturing resulted in increased production of colorfast fabrics in a broad array of colors. Light colors and pastels were very popular in the late 1920s through the 1950s. This quilt is a good example of that trend. David Whitney, professor of zoology at the University of Nebraska, paid May Walker and Minnie Goodman $100 to make this quilt in 1931. (That's $1,214.97 today!) We believe this is from a kit, as the International Quilt Study Center collection holds an identical quilt. Dresden Plate Ada Cecelia Peterson Made in Clay County, Nebraska 1930s Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Nancy Nelson, Bedford, Texas 13132-1 This quilt was made by Ada Christina Cecelia Johnson Peterson of Clay County, Nebraska. The daughter of Swedish emigrants, Ada was born August 7, 1880, in Swede Home, Nebraska. Ada Peterson Double Wedding Ring Jessie Shimmin & Mattie Shimmin Made in Hooker County, Nebraska 1940 80.5" x 68.5" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Agnes Poehler, Antioch, Illinois 13112-1 This Double Wedding Ring quilt was hand pieced and hand quilted by mother and daughter Mattie and Jessie Shimmin of Hooker County, Nebraska, in 1940. The two backing pieces and the binding were machine sewn. It was created as a wedding present for Mattie's granddaughter.  Mattie Shimmin  Jessie Shimmin Compare Woman's World magazine, October 1931, (left column) and Nebraska Farmer magazine, February 1930 (right column of the pdf) Sunbonnet Sue & Overall Sam Maker Unknown Made in Smithfield, Nebraska Circa 1935 82.5" x 72" Nebraska Prairie Museum In 1900 Bertha Corbett Melcher published a book called The Sunbonnet Babies. Her illustrations were used to decorate household items and became the basis for what is commonly known as the Sunbonnet Sue quilt pattern.   Tulip Dora Christena Latham Made in Cambridge, Nebraska Circa 1935 78.25" x 71.25" Cambridge Museum   This Tulip quilt was made by Dora Christena Latham who was born in Illinois in 1879 and moved with her parents to a homestead four and a half miles north of Cambridge, Nebraska, in 1880.   Puff Sarah Jane Guthrie Made in Grand Island, Nebraska Circa 1930 76.5" x 64.5" Hastings Museum 30893 Sarah Jane Guthrie made this quilt when she was in her eighties.   Grandmother's Flower Garden Pearl Aegerter Made in Randolph, Nebraska 1930s 83" x 81.5" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: John Aegerter, North Billemca, Massachusetts 11860-1 Pearl Aegerter hand made this quilt in the 1930s. Born in Iowa, Pearl moved with her family to Randolph, Nebraska, around 1898. In addition to quilting, Pearl was accomplished at knitting, tatting, and crocheting.   Trip Around the World Katherine Enevold Grunwald Made in Omaha, Nebraska 1920s-1930s 70" x 68.5" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Berno Marie Anderson, Lincoln 13046-2 Perhaps influenced by the lighter colors used in fashion in the early twentieth century, textile manufacturers began producing fabric in new lighter colors with a heavy emphasis on pastels. This influence is seen in the color palette of many Depression era quilts and exemplified here. Katherine Enevold Grunwald, the maker of this quilt, was born in Germany in 1870 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1889 to live in Omaha with her sister. She married Bernhard Grunwald, who had emigrated from East Prussia about the same time she did. Katherine and Bernhard lived in Omaha all their married life and had three children and one grandchild, Berno Marie Anderson, who inherited and donated this quilt. Katherine was known for her handwork skills and excelled at tatting, needlepoint, and quilting.   Floral Bouquet Maker Unknown Made in Nebraska 1930s 95" x 73.5" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Lois Gaylord, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 13160-8 The donor of this quilt indicated that it was purchased at the Miller & Paine department store in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is unknown what she meant by this. While Lincoln quilters recall that Miller & Paine sold quilt kits and hosted quilt shows, they do not recall the store selling finished quilts.   Flower Garden Wilhelmine Ziemke Foth Made in Ord, Nebraska 1930 83" x 74" International Quilt Study Center 2004.020.0001    Floral Bouquet Maker Unknown Made in Nebraska 1930s 89" x 80" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Lois Gaylord, Chesnut Hill, Massachusetts 13160-10 The donor of this quilt indicated that it was purchased at the Miller & Paine department store in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is unknown what she meant by this. While Lincoln quilters recall that Miller & Paine sold quilt kits and hosted quilt shows, they do not recall the store selling finished quilts. Sun Bonnet Sue Ada Cecelia Peterson Made in Clay County, Nebraska 1930s 79.5" x 78.5" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Nancy Nelson, Bedford, Texas 13132-2 This quilt was made by Ada Christina Cecelia Johnson Peterson of Clay County, Nebraska. The daughter of Swedish emigrants, Ada was born August 7, 1880, in Swede Home, Nebraska. Dresden Plate Helen Salter Inhelder Made in Nebraska 1930s 93" x 62" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Dori Stack, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 13012-1 The maker of this quilt, Helen Salter Inhelder, grew up in Pierce, Nebraska, and later taught in the Plainview High School. It is believed this quilt was made for a hope chest. Colonial History Paulina Mangold Made in Bennington, Nebraska Circa 1938 86" x 68" IQSC 1997.007.0786 Butterflies Mrs. Joseph Perkin Made in Maywood, Nebraska 1940 93" x 92" IQSC 2002.003.0001 Perhaps influenced by the lighter colors used in fashion in the early twentieth century, textile manufacturers began producing fabric in new lighter colors with a heavy emphasis on pastels. This influence is seen in the color palette of Depression era quilts. Covered Wagon States Mildred Bradstreet Stevens & The Busy Thimbles Made in Columbus, Nebraska and Arizona 1939-1940 & 1980s 87" x 76" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Sylvia A. Stevens, Apache Junction, Arizona 11384-1 This quilt is based on patterns that appeared in the Omaha World-Herald in the late 1930s. Mildred Bradstreet Stevens and her friends worked on the quilt together in Columbus, Nebraska. Mildred carried it with her as her family moved several times over the years. In the 1980s, while living in Arizona, she donated money to a church group and they completed the quilt. Trip Around the World / Chicago Pavement Variation Leona Hake, Betty Rohner, & Emma Gelston Rohner Made in Columbus, Nebraska 1935-1940 & 2001 87" x 69" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Betty Cowan, Columbus 13128-2 Emma Gelston Rohner pieced the top of this quilt between 1935 and 1940. Her granddaughter Betty Rohner added the border, and Leona Hake quilted it in 2001. Emma was born in 1870 in Elk City, Nebraska. According to her granddaughter, Emma learned to sew at a very young age. Her mother gave her fabric, needle, and thread when she was just three years old. Emma married Jake Rohner in 1892. They lived in Belgrade, Fullerton and finally Columbus, Nebraska. Tulip Applique Katherine Enevold Grunwald Made in Omaha, Nebraska 1920-1940 101" x 83.75" Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Berno Marie Anderson, Lincoln 13046-1 Kathrine Enevold Grunwald made these quilts in the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Germany in 1870, she came to live with her sister in Omaha in 1889. Kathrine was a talented seamstress and lace maker. Shortly after her arrival in Omaha, she took a job at a shirt manufacturing company. She married Bernhard Grunwald in 1898. Kathrine and Bernhard raised a family and lived in Omaha for the rest of their lives, where Kathrine used her formidable skills to produce beautiful quilts, lace, and other needlework. Lavender Flowers in Pot Katherine Enevold Grunwald Made in Omaha, Nebraska 1930-1939 Nebraska State Historical Society, Source: Berno Marie Anderson, Lincoln 13046-3 Perhaps influenced by the lighter colors used in fashion in the early twentieth century, textile manufacturers began producing fabric in new lighter colors with a heavy emphasis on pastels. This influence is seen in the color palette of Depression era quilts.

NSHS Home Virtual Exhibits   Introduction   Colonial Revival   Patterns & Kits   Embroidered   Feed Sacks   Shows & Contests