QUILT INDEX RECORD

54-159-94

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Museum of Texas Tech University

Who documented this quilt?

Museum of Texas Tech University Collection

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

1983-104

This is a:

Finished quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Civil War Pictorial

How wide is the quilt?

81"

How long is the quilt?

78.5"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What colors is the quilt?

Cream; Green; Red

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Time period:

1850-1875

Further information concerning dates:

Date of use: c1860s

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

9

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

Wide border of 8 medallion blocks with pomegranate and tulip variations.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

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

Cotton appliqued and patchwork “Civil War” quilt. Quilt face represents the Union and the other half of the quilt represents the Confederacy. Both groups of these figures in the center of the face are done in applique w/ extensive handstitching. Wide border of 8 medallion blocks with pomegranate and tulip variations. At the center of each flowered block is a variation of “mariner’s compass.” Interspaced among the flowers are birds and red stars.

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

The Natural History of the Traditional Quilt, Forrest and Blincoe, pp. 54-75

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Museum of Texas Tech University

Quilt owner's city:

Lubbock

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quilt top made by:

Robb, Susan

Essay:

Made by Susan Robb, for her stepson Wm Henry Robb, donated by surviving grandchildren of T.J. and Molly Robb. Information provided by Madge Robb in 1997. The Robb family came originally from Ireland (probably from Scotland to Ireland), to Philadelphia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. Henry Robb and Susan C. Denelton were married in Coanoma County, Miss. They later moved to Vicksbury, Miss. Where their two sons -Aaron Baron Robb and Thomas Jefferson Robb- were born. Henry had three children - Theodore F., Wm. Henry, and Minerva- when he and Susan were married. They family moved across the Miss. River to Chicat County, Ark. near Eudora. This is where they were living when Henry’s two older sons went into the Civil Wa. There is no record of Theodore F. Robb. Wm Henry was stationed in London, Tenn., when he had health problems. He was given a furlough so he would have a chance to improve his health. He came back but it did not improve. he was given a medical discharge on Nov. 7, 1862. Wm Henry had his own horse and equipment and was paid to ride his horse home to Chicot county, Ark., 750 miles, because, quote “I was unable to furnish transportation in kind on account of General Bragg not allowing any person to be transported on the cars, until his army was transported to Chattanooga.” Jacab M. Connell, Capt. Commanding Company. It is said that W. Henry Robb, not being well, riding home on his horse, was in rain, his health became worse and he died at a farm house and was buried there. Henry Robb died in Chicat Co., Ark. in 1866. Susan Robb and her two sons, step-daughter-in-law Julia V. Robb (wife of theodore F. who died in 1870) and her three chirdren moved to Denton Co., Tx about 1877. In 1887, Tom and Molly Robb, Susan Robb and Julia Robb and her children were living near Carrollton in Dallas County. While living there grandma Susan Robb died. She was interred in Zion Cemetery in Denton County.

Donor Information:
The binding around the quilt being sewn by machine, Madge is in the opinion that “I don’t think Susan C. would have done that, with all her beautiful handwork. It is possible that she had not completed that part of the quilt at the time of her death and that her daughter-in-law Molly or her stepdaugher-in-law Julia did that to complete the quilt”. She also states that “the yellow dog on the quilt represented a neighbor’s dog that followed its owner when he left home to enter the service. ‘T.J. Robee’ name that is under the stump is Susan and Henry’s youngest son. The stump has the Pelican knocking the eagle off the stump. Being a Southern lady, I suppose that was her desire of the War outcome. The child’s hand above the stump has two brown lines and stitching going upward between the fingers. My thought on this is, her prayer to Heaven that the outcome of the War would be the best?”

According to Madge Robb, Susan Robb had started the quilt with the intentions of giving it to her stepson Wm Henry Robb who was serving in the Civil War. After his death, she gave it to her youngest son, Tom, father of Madge’s husband Purdy P. Robb. Thomas Jefferson Robb died in 1918, his wife Molly died in 1904, and their youngest son Purdy died in 1982. The quilt was donated to the Museum by Maye Robb, wife of T.J. Robb Jr. Jr. Peterson, son of Esther Robb Campbell, and Madge Robb, wife of Purdy P. Robb. The quilt was taken to the Museum in 1983.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Museum of Texas Tech University, all rights reserved