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Sunshine and Shadows

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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