QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5963

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Quilts and Health

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

12.0002

Quilt's title:

Mom’s Alzheimer’s Quilt

Quilt top made by:

Koeppe, Madeleine

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Inherited

Where the quilt was made, city:

DeWitt

Where the quilt was made, county:

Clinton

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt started?

2003

When was the quilt finished?

2004

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Myers

Quiltmaker's birth date:

2/16/1922

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Perriton

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Michigan

Quiltmaker's date and place of death:

5/7/2005

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

German

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Nursing School at St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing, MI

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Prodestant

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Registered Nurse

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Myers, Eno

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Myers, Blanche

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Koeppe, Kenneth Richard

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Farmer and salesman

Number of children:

4

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Relative

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 50 or over

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

From daughter Carolyn

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

61 1/2"

How long is the quilt?

97"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Madeleine Koeppe

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

Feb. 1, 2004

Method used to make the inscription:

Ink

Describe the quilt's layout:

Crazy

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain; Front turned to back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

No filling

How are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

This is the last quilt made by my Mother while she had Alzheimer’s disease. The quilt starts in the center of the bed sheet and she worked her way to the bottom. Then started back at the center again and worked her way up until her disease overtook her completely. She would fold under the raw edges of a piece of fabric, whip stitches the edges in place on the sheet and then add feather stitch embroidery over the fold. The progression of her disease can start to be seen on the bottom third of the Quilt. She was now cutting out circles from the larger pieces of fabric and then inserting a different fabric. Also the length and quality of her stitches began to change and the pieces of fabric became larger. The top portion of the quilt shows the quick progression of Alzheimer’s. The pieces are scattered, many different shapes & sizes, and the switch to American flag fabrics was one of her favorite ideas for her quilt. The last thing she did on this quilt was to put on the red bows. They are made of paper/velvet material that is often used in Christmas decorations. She made red tails for the bows from cotton fabric and sewed the tails down with her feather stitch. Once the tails were stitched down she used a safety pin to pin the bows in place. As you can see from the photo, she was very proud of this quilt when it was displayed at the Lansing Area Patchers Quilt Show, Haslett, Michigan 2004. It is interesting to look at this quilt and actually see the progression of her disease. Memories of her struggle fade with time, but looking at this quilt is a visual diary of Alzheimer’s.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Lansing Area Patchers Show, 2004

Person filling out this form is:

Daughter of quiltmaker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Carolyn Babcock

Quilt owner's city:

Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

After ‘helping’ Mom with this quilt, she gave it to me when she moved into adult foster care for Alzheimer’s patients.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees