QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-7004

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

01.0005

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2001:158.5

Object label:

Liberty Tree Quilt
Mrs. S.K. Daniels
Provenance unknown
1896
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.##2001:158.5

Essay:

Quilts embroidered with pieced-block patterns of tree designs usually date to after the Civil War. In this signed, dated, and embroidered "Pine Tree" quilt, Mrs. Daniels commemorates Civil War generals and battles as well as postwar elected officials, including U.S. President McKinley and his first vice-president, Hobart. She also embroidered patriotic phrases on the quilt: "One Flag, One Country," "We love the dear old Flag," and, in the center, "Liberty Tree." The quilt's patriotic theme is further carried out through the use of red and blue fabrics pieced to form the leaf sections of the trees, which are set against a white background fabric.

Like other women who have used their quilts to express political interests or opinions about politics or social issues, Mrs. Daniels expressed her support of the late nineteenth-centry temperance movement in the United States by including on her quilt the phrase "abstain from strong drink."

By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

The block inscriptions are:
"Appomattox, VA. April 1, 1865. Grant," "Liberty Tree," "Abstain from Strong Drink," "Hatchers Run Feb. 5 to 7 1865 Grant," "Pittsburg Landing April 1862," "Pittsburg Landing April 6 1862." Inscriptions around outer edge: "Wm McKinley 1896," "Appomatax April 1865 Grant," "Five Forks 1 April Sheridan," "Wilson Creek, MO Aug 10 861 Lyon," "J B Tanner," "One Flag One Country," "Marching through Georgia," "Atlanta Georgia July 22 1863," "Mrs. S K Daniels Mach 1896," "Wm.. Northcott," "Five Forks Mo. April 1 1865 Sheridan," "Raleigh NC Aprill 26, 1865 Sherman," "Raleigh NC April 26 1865 Sherman." Additional inscriptions: "C A Hobert," "Battle of Chickamauga Sept 199-20 1863,," "We love the dear old Flag," "Washington, Lincoln, Grant," "Battle of Chattanooga Dec 23, 24, 25 1863"

Quilt's title:

Liberty Tree

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Tree of Paradise, Tree of Life

Brackman # or other source & #:

820

Biography of the quiltmaker?

2012 research found Annie b. Daniels, wife of S.K. Daniels buried in Teoc Presbyterian Cemetery, Mississippi.

Name of the group that made the quilt:

Mrs. S.K. Daniels

Where the quilt was made, state:

Kentucky (KY)

Time period:

1876-1900

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

March 3rd 1851

Quiltmaker's date and place of death:

October 17th 1900

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

69

How long is the quilt?

80 1/2

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Cream; Green; Red

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Stains

Type of inscription:

Signature; Date; Initials; Multiple Names; Message; Place

Describe the type of inscription:

The red, embroidered inscriptions commemorate generals, Civil War, temperance.

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Appomattox Va. April 1 1865

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

other

Describe where the inscription was found:

On setting blocks and setting triangles

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

28 pieced, 4 setting

Size of quilt blocks:

11

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side; Alternating with plain squares

Describe the quilt setting:

The trees are facing each other, 3 rows on each side pointing toward 4 plain blocks in the center.

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

1" borders on three sidess only, red with black print.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Multiple scrap

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

4

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Back turned to front

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

1/8

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

8

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

11

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Wreaths

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Image

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Image

Source of the information on this quilt:

KItty Clark Cole, donor and museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Fumio Ichikawa

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum