QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-7

Description:

Of the five wholecloth quilts by Gasperik, this is the only one made for a full-size bed. The wear on it indicates that it was heavily used, probably by Gasperik herself, on her own bed. A transfer pattern with a center medallion quiltING layout such as McCall Kaumagraph Transfer Pattern #1811 may have been the design source for Gasperik's quilting in this and possibly another wholecloth quilt.

Essay:

There may be other, as yet unidentified, McCall patterns which can explain ALL of the Gasperik wholecloth quilts. McCall was a source Gasperik regularly consulted. Her spectacular Indiana Wreath quilts (#011, #032, #043 and #063) were based on McCall Quilt Pattern #524. Her Tree of Life Quilts (#031, #044 and #065) used a McCall crewelwork pattern. And her Grandmother's Fan (#051) may also have been a McCall pattern. A Susan Salser memory: "My sister Karen remembers seeing this quilt as an everyday quilt on grandma's bed at the house on Cottage Grove. My mom brought me this one at the same time (and with the same apologies) that she brought me Double Trellis. I was pretty dismayed, wondering what she was giving my sisters, but she also gave me 7 of grandma's quilt books because I was showing signs of taking up quilting myself . . . so all is forgiven."

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

042

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Wholecloth Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Rayon Wholecloth Quilt (Susan)

How wide is the quilt?

74 inches

How long is the quilt?

91 inches

Shape of edge:

Scalloped

Shape of corners:

Rounded

What color is the quilt?

Pink

Overall color scheme:

One color/monochromatic

Quilt's condition:

Fair/worn

Damage:

Distortion or shrinkage; Uneven batting

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

The wear on it indicates it was heavily used.

Time period:

1930-1949

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Describe the quilt's layout:

Wholecloth

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Rayon

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Satin

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Materials used to make the back:

Satin/Sateen

What color is the back of the quilt?

Pink

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Width of pieces on the back:

37", 37"

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Other

Fabric structure of the binding:

Satin

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half 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:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

8

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

8

Width between quilting lines:

1" (most dense) 4" (least dense), unusually wide for Gasperik.

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Wreaths

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Quilt top made by:

Gasperik, Mary

Quilted by:

Gasperik, Mary

Where the quilt was made, city:

Chicago

Where the quilt was made, county:

Cook County

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Elsie brought this to Susan around 1968-69, at the same time she gave Susan 1933 Double Trellis (#041). When she gave them to Susan she said she thought they should be preserved, even though she said Gasperik herself had asked Elsie to discard them, and even though they are very inferior examples of Gasperik's work.

Why was the quilt made?

Home decoration

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Was the quilt used for something other than what it is used for now?

It is thought that Gasperik used this quilt on her own bed, perhaps as an everyday bed covering.

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

Describe present uses of the quilt:

Mary's grandchildren regard her quilts as a unique collection to be preserved and appreciated.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Commercial pattern

What is the commercial name of the quilting design used for this quilt?

Possibly McCall Kaumagraph Transfer Pattern #1811

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

Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair (Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 1993)102-103. Merikay Waldvogel "One American Dream Comes True" Quilters Newsletter Magazine, March 2008, 46-49.

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

Envelope Cover: McCall Kaumagraph Transfer Pattern #1811 (Collection of Susan Salser).

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Susan Krueger Salser

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner; Relative of quiltmaker; Author/researcher

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Grandmother

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Grand-daughter Susan Salser began this research effort in 1991, after she and her two sisters divided up the quilts which belonged to their mother (Elsie Gasperik Krueger) who died in 1988. Her ongoing research has been fruitful and interesting.

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Mihalovits, Maria

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

01/25/1888

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

11/18/1906

Quiltmaker's date of death:

05/25/1969

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Elementary School

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's city:

Chicago

Quiltmaker's county:

Cook

Quiltmaker's state:

Illinois (IL)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Mihalovits, Istvan

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Mihalovits, Vidoszava

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

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

Gasperik, Stephen

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

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

Milk Dealer/Grocery Store Owner/Butcher

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1 (Elsie 1909-1988)

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2 (Elmer and Stephen)

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From guild or club member; Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Pleasure; Other

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

Mary Gasperik made quilts because it was her life passion and greatest talent. As opportunities arose, she entered contests and exhibited them publicly. She also made special quilts for her family.

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Tuley Park Quilt Club and Detroit News Quilt Club

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group?

Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI

What are the main activities of the group?

Chicago group met to quilt and held periodic quilt shows; Detroit group held national exhibits and contests.

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

Who photographed this quilt?

Don Gonzalez

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Hank Finn

Details

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