QUILT INDEX RECORD
30-26-861
Date data collected:
1-27-2012
Documentation Location:
Vicary Mansion 1235 Third Ave Freedom PA 15042
In which county does this quilt currently reside?
Westmoreland
Owner's Name:
Gallagher, Owen
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Interviewer:
J. Budd
Who documented this quilt?
Western Pennsylvania Quilt Documentation Project
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation
Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation Quilt Documentation Number:
WP.WST.0011
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation
This is a:
Finished quilt
Owner's name for quilt:
Sunshine and Shadows
How wide is the quilt?
68"
How long is the quilt?
85"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
Describe the corners:
Mitered Corner
What color is the quilt?
Black; Red
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Very good/almost new
Damage:
Distortion or shrinkage; Fading
Type of inscription:
Date; Message; Multiple Names
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Embroidered Black Cat and By V Gallagher for Owen
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
1978
Method used to make the inscription:
Embroidery
Location of inscription:
other
Describe where the inscription was found:
on back corner
Time period:
1976-1999
When was the quilt finished?
1978
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1978
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
35
Size of quilt blocks:
9.375" -9.5" sq
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Same block throughout
Number of borders:
2
Describe the borders:
1st. 2.5" 2nd. 6"
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric types used to make the quilt top:
Broadcloth
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Solid/plain
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
Red
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
2
Width of pieces on the back:
28", 40"
Describe the back:
Hand sewn; Reversible; Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton or polyester blend
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Back turned to front
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
greater than one inch
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:
black
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Echo; Grid/crosshatch; Outline
Describe the quilting designs used:
grid/crosshatch 2.5" in black border; running leaves
Person filling out this form is:
Blood relative of quiltmaker
Source of the information on this quilt:
sister to owner
Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:
Other
Quilt top made by:
Gallagher, Virginia
Quilted by:
Gallagher, Virginia
Where the quilt was made, city:
Apollo
Where the quilt was made, county:
Westmoreland
Where the quilt was made, state:
Pennsylvania (PA)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Gift
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
Gift in 1978-to Owen (son) from Virginia (mother)
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
First quilt made after she lost central vision in one of her eyes. Puts a black cat on all her quilts (had a black cat called Smudgie)
Why was the quilt made?
Other
Details about why the quilt was made:
bed cover
The quilt was made to be used for:
Bedding, daily use
Quilt is presently used as:
Room decoration
Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:
Amish Shadows
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Unknown
Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?
Unknown
Describe where the quilting design pattern was found:
from a class-Sewickley Academy
Quilt owner's city:
Apollo
Quilt owner's state:
Pennsylvania (PA)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Muders
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's birth date:
09-16-1922
Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:
Alippo Township
Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:
Pennsylvania
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
United States
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
German/Irish
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Roman Catholic
Quiltmaker's occupation:
Secretary for Goodman Grey Co (17 years)
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Rural
Quiltmaker's city:
Midlothian
Quiltmaker's state:
Virginia (VA)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Muders, Harry A
Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:
Pittsburgh PA
Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:
German
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Monahan, Margaret Nancy
Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:
Alabama
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:
Irish, French
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Secretary
Number of children:
5
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
3
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
2
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
From guild or club member
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 50 or over
Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:
more than 50
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
no
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
no
Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:
tried all different quilts; made duplicates at same time; watched tv for ideas
Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:
lost vision and wanted to see what she could do at the club at Sewickly Academy. She gave her friend a ride to the class thus starting her quilting hobby. This was Virgina's first quilt after she lost vision in her first eye.
Cite this Quilt
Gallagher, Virgini. Sunshine and Shadows. 1978. From Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation, Western Pennsylvania Quilt Documentation Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=30-26-861. Accessed: 03/28/24