BACK TO ARTISTS
Mary Gasperik
Quiltmaker
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Susan Salser

Mary Gasperik fits into a very important historic period of immigration, growth, and American experience. Mariska Mihalovits was born in Hungary in 1888. At the age of 16, she immigrated from rural Transylvania to the United States with her sister. She was recorded at Ellis Island as Mariska, the Hungarian form of the English name Mary. She remained in Chicago and became an American citizen. She married fellow Hungarian Stephen Gasperik in 1906, and raised three children: Stephen, Elsie and Elmer.
At the age of 45, Gasperik encountered quilts for the first time at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. With help from a local quilt club, she quickly adapted her already well-developed needlework skills to quiltmaking. She then devoted her life to that most American form of needlework - quiltmaking; though her quilts very much reflect her Hungarian roots. Thus, she left an incredible record in material culture at a time when few women left such records for study and research. These quilts and her story are not just important for quilt history, but also for women's history and for American history.
Read How I Researched the Mary Gasperik Collection by Susan Salser, here.
Notes on The Detroit News Quilt Club columns are here.
Was the maker a woman, man or a group?
Female
When was the quiltmaker born?
1888
Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
Hungarian
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Mihalovits
Spouse's/Spouses' name(s):
Gasperik, Stephen
-
Legacy
Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary -
Essay
Mary Gasperik (1888-1969): Her Lif...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 01: Masterpiece Quilts
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 02: Chicago & Tuley ...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 03: Detroit News
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 04: Quilt Designs from A...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 05: Quilts Made With 193...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 06: Quilts Made With Kit...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 07: Family Gifts - Child...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 08: Family Gifts - Weddi...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 09: Appliqué
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 10: The "Mystery&qu...
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 11: Wholecloth Quilts
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Gallery
Gasperik 12: Practical Quilts
Waldvogel, Merikay
-
Essay
American Quilts Empowered Immigrant Wo...
Salser, Susan
-
Collection
Detroit News Quilt History Project
Salser, Susan
-
Creator
"Mom's Quilt" Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Baby Blocks Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Blue Pinwheel Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Blue Pinwheel Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Boy On Tricycle Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Bridal Bouquet Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Bridal Bouquet Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Cactus Basket Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Calico Rose Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Calla Lilies Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Colonial Quilting... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Cottage Behind th... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Daisies Won't Tel... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Delectable Mounta... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Doll Quilt Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Doll Quilt Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Double Feather St... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Double Feather St... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Double Feather St... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Double Trellis Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Dresden Plate Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Dress - Dutch Boy... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Dutch Girl Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Farm Design Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Farm Design Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Floral Bouquet Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Four Little Pigs Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Giant Dahlia Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Girl Pulling Duck... Gasperik, Mary
-
Creator
Grandmother's Fan... Gasperik, Mary
Load More