QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-1092

Object label

Rose Wreath
Bozena Vilhelmina Clarke
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
1935-1937
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#6119.35

Essay about this quilt.

This quilt was from an Anne Orr pattern called "Early American Wreath". It won an Honorable Mention Ribbon at the Detroit News Quilt Show in May of 1937. Bozena gave the quilt to her daughter Laura May.

Laura got the pattern from a Good Housekeeping Magazine from the 1930s. The magazine article offered information for purchasing the pattern via mail order. The price of the pattern was 25cents. The pattern was sent for and on the top of the page, Laura May noted when her mother made this quilt and that she entered it in the Detroit News Quilt Show.

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number

85.2141

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

6119.35

What is the title of the quilt?

Rose Wreath

What is the name of the quilt given by the owner?

Rose Wreath

What is the pattern name that it is commonly used among quilt makers and historians for this quilt?

Rose Wreath

Who made the quilt top?

Clarke, Laura May

Who did the quilting?

Clarke, Bozena Vilhelmina

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Received as a gift

Where was the quilt made (city)?

Detroit

Where was the quilt made (county)?

Wayne

Where was the quilt made (state)?

Michigan (MI)

Choose the time frame that best describes when the quilt was made.

1930-1949

When was the quilt started?

1935-36

When was the quilt finished?

1937

How is this quilt used?

Museum collection

Choose the gender of the quilt maker(s).

Female

Where does/did the quilt maker live (city)?

Detroit

Where does/did the quilt maker live (county)?

Wayne

Where does/did the quilt maker live (state)?

Michigan (MI)

What is the quilt maker's maiden name?

Clarke

What is the quilt maker's birthdate?

7/22/1900

What environment did the quilt maker(s) live in?

Urban

If applicable, when did the quilt maker die?

3/7/1978

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker?

English, Bohemian (Czech)

What is/was the last level of education completed by the quilt maker?

B.A. in Education from Wayne State University

What is/was the quilt maker's religious affiliation?

Congregational

What is/was the occupation of the quilt maker?

Kindergarten teacher. Was president one year of the NEA Kindergarten Division, Teacher of the Month, June 1962.

What is the quilt maker's father's name?

Clarke, William George

Where was the quilt maker's father born?

Verona Hills, Michigan

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker's father?

English

What is the quilt maker's mother's name?

Clarke, Bozena Vilhelmina Motl

Where was the quilt maker's mother born?

Detroit, Michigan

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker's mother?

Bohemian (Czech)

How did the quilt maker learn to quilt?

From Relative

When did the quilt maker begin making quilts?

Age 20-29

Why does/did the quilt maker make quilts?

Pleasure

How many quilt has the quilt maker made?

5-20 quilts

Has the quilt maker ever sold quilts?

no

Has the quilt maker ever taught quilt making?

no

What type of quilted object is this?

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

87 1/4

How long is the quilt?

92 5/8

What is the shape of the quilt edge?

Straight

What is the shape of the corners?

Rounded

What color(s) is the quilt?

Green, Pink, White

Choose the best color scheme description for the quilt.

Multicolor

What is the best description of the quilt's condition?

Excellent/like new

If the quilt has an inscription, what type(s) of inscriptions are on the quilt?

Date, Message

Enter the exact inscription here, including dates in the same form in which they appear on the quilt. Do not correct any spellings.

Bozena V. Clarke Detroit 1666 W. Grand Blvd. Rose Wreath an Ann Orr pattern. There are 3028 pieces besides border-pieced in 1935-1936 and quilted in 1936-1937 by Bozena V. Clarke Won honorable mention ribbon May 1937 at the Detroit News Quilt Show

What is the date found on the quilt?

1935-37

How was the inscription made?

Attached label, Embroidery

If you chose Other, please describe the method used to inscribe the quilt.

cross stitich

Where is the inscription found on the quilt?

on back

What is the layout (or set) of the quilt?

Block pattern

How many blocks are in the quilt?

12, 3028

How are the blocks arranged in the quilt?

Straight

How are the blocks spaced in the quilt?

Separated by sashing with cornerstones or connecting blocks

What is the width of the sashing?

2 3/8

Enter the number of different block patterns used in the quilt.

1

How many borders are on the quilt?

4

Describe the style of the borders.

The first three borders are each 1". The outer border is 2 1/8".

What types of fiber were used to make the quilt top?

Cotton

What types of prints were used to make the quilt top?

Solid/plain

What piecing method was used to make the quilt top?

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

What fibers were used to make the quilt back?

Cotton

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

3

How do you describe the quilt back?

Same fabric used throughout

What fiber type was used to make the quilt binding?

Cotton

What construction technique was used to finish the edge of the quilt?

Bias grain

What is the width of the binding (front side only)?

less than a half inch

What is the actual width of the binding (front side only)?

1/4

What is the fiber content of the quilt filling?

Cotton

Choose the thickness of the quilt filling that best describes the quilt.

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the quilt layers held together?

Hand quilting

How many quilting stitches are there per inch? Count only the stitches on the top.

6

Choose another spot on the quilt. How many quilting stitches are there per inch? Count only the stitches on the top.

6

Describe the overall quilt design.

Grid/crosshatch, Single parallel lines

How did the quilt maker acquire the fabric for this quilt?

Purchased new

What is the source of the quilt's pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Enter the commercial name of the top's pattern if you know it.

Ann Orr design

List other materials that exisit about the quilt. This may include oral history, diaries, photos of the maker, templates, etc.

Image of quiltmakers, oral history told by niece Harriet Clarke, and story in Michigan Quilts: 150 Years of a Textile Tradition.

List publications where this quilt or maker was featured.

Image of quiltmakers, oral history told by niece Harriet Clarke, and story in Michigan Quilts: 150 Years of a Textile Tradition.

Who documented this quilt?

Quilt owner

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state.

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How did the owner acquire this quilt?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained.

The quilt was inherited by the quiltmaker's niece, Harriet Clarke and donated to the MSU Museum in 1985.

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field.

Laura enjoyed piecing and appliquing and her mother quilted most of her tops.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quilt maker.

Laura enjoyed piecing and applique and her mother did most of her quilting.

Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs or rhymes used by the quilt maker.

Laura and her mother read the Detroit News Quilt Columns and clipped patterns and traded with friends.

Who photographed this quilt?

Eifert

Who is the copyright holder?

MSU Board of Trustees