QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-24

Essay:

The Tuley Park Quilt Club provided quilt designs for the 1934 Chicago Park District publication Quilting, by Alice Beyers. The quilting clubs Chicago's South Park Commissioners established at Ogden and Tuley parks were the first and best-known of these clubs. Alice Beyers served as the Park District Director of Arts and Crafts. This Tulip Basket block (a Nancy Cabot/Chicago Tribune pattern) was one of several in Beyers' instructional booklet. At the beginning of her quilting career, Gasperik was greatly influenced by the quilters who gathered at the Tuley Park club house for regular meetings. When Gasperik discovered, in September 1935, The Quilt Club Corner and annual quilt shows sponsored by Detroit News she sent Tulip Basket to the very first Detroit quilt show and contest she attended (October 18-20, 1935). Gasperik's Tulip Basket quilt can be seen on display in a Detroit News press photo of that quilt show. Gasperik competed in every Detroit News quilt show from October 1935 through the last one, which was held (May 24-26, 1940). The border design - an assemblage of 3 borders including a 1-inch red border, a 4-inch border of appliqué tulips, and a 1.5-inch dark green border - is not part of the original Nancy Cabot pattern.

It should be noted that none of the known presentations of the Nancy Cabot Tulip Basket block offer suggestions or instructions about what kind of border, if any, to make for the quilt. The Beyer Quilting manual, however, devoted a 7-page section to a discussion of the importance of quilt borders and offered several illustrated suggestions for designing them. None of the book's illustrated suggestions resemble Gasperik's choice, but it is known that the Tuley Park Quilt Club used this manual. It is possible that coming up with an appropriate border design for this particular quilt border was an assignment or subject of discussion within the group.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

060

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Tulip Basket

Owner's name for quilt:

Red Tulips

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Tulip Basket

Brackman # or other source & #:

42.58

How wide is the quilt?

60 inches

How long is the quilt?

92.5 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Red; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Initials; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"M. G. A-CENIURY-OF-PROGRRSS 1893-1933"

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1933-1934

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1933-34

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1933-34

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

Estimated date is based on the likely date when she joined the Tuley Park Quilt Club and began quilting during or soon after the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Subject of the quilt:

Tulips in Baskets

Number of quilt blocks:

9

Size of quilt blocks:

16 inches

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Describe the quilt setting:

Triangle blocks in plain white fill out the central field.

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout

Number of borders:

Three

Describe the borders:

Narrow solid green outer border; wider center border of applique tulips; narrower inner red border framing the central field.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Cream

Describe the back:

Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

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 are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

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

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Single parallel lines

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

Single parallel lines in background in each appliqued block. Side and top setting triangles contain parallel lines with single feather plumes in white background and double-feather plumes in lower corners. There are six pointed starts at the intersections of each block.

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

Single feather plume quilting motifs are used in the white background areas. Double feather plumes are in the bottom corners.

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:

When Karen was about 12 years of age and participating in one of the occasional family quilt viewings (Mary would ‘unpeel’ a bed as they all stood around commenting), she said, “Grandma, this is the best of all,” referring to the Red Tulip quilt. Mary immediately gave it to her.

Why was the quilt made?

Personal enjoyment

The quilt was made to be used for:

Unknown

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: Book

Describe the source of the pattern:

Nancy Cabot's Second Book of Quilts, publ. The Chicago Tribune, undated.

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Tulip Basket block design -y Quilting by Alice Beyers. Nancy Cabot pattern also called Tulip Basket.

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

Unknown

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

This quilt was likely made at the Tuley Park Quilt Club using the Alice Beyer Quilting manual published by the Chicago Park District. Neither the Beyer manual, nor the published versions of the Nancy Cabot Tulip Basket pattern offer border suggestions. It is not known how Gasperik came up with her elaborate border design for this quilt.

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Detroit News Quilt Show and Contest, October 18-20, 1935. Detroit, Michigan.

The Quilts of Mary Gasperik, Ravenswood Historic Site, Livermore, CA, March 14-15, 1992.

National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky exhibit New Quilts from an Old Favorite 2012: Baskets & Antique Basket Quilts, April 6 - July 10, 2012.

Contests entered:

Detroit News Quilt Show and Contest, October 18,20, 1935. A Detroit News press photograph (private collection, Susan Salser) shows this quilt on display.

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:

Mary Gasperik's own copy of Nancy Cabot's Second Book of Quilts, (The Chicago Tribune, undated), private collection of Gasperik heirs. On this booklet's back cover Gasperik penciled some numbers (perhaps pattern numbers?) which are unrelated to the booklet's contents.

Alice Beyers Quilting (Chicago Park District, 1934).

http://www.archive.org/details/chicagoparkdistr00chic, from 1936 publication, accessed 2/10/2013, pp. 13-14: "Groups are working in practically every recreation center in the Chicago Park District, in all forms of handwork projects in the artcrafts and crafts. The individual is given free scope in all these activities and the classes have little of the academic about them. Rather, they are clubs of neighbors with mutual interests meeting together to pursue a hobby. Skilled leaders work along with each group. While in some instances a nominal fee is charged for materials, admission to groups is free to everyone. Quilting. This old-fashioned but exceedingly useful home-craft has been highly developed in the parks. It combines art with the friendly, social features of the old time quilting bee. Groups include young as well as elderly women. Original designs are encouraged, and some exquisite quilts are produced. The Quilting Clubs at Tuley and Ogden Parks on the South Side are particularly well known."

http:www.archive.org/stream/playground21playrich/playground21playrich_djvu.txt, accessed Feb. 10, 2013 has a copy of the May 1927 Playground article entitled "Quilting in Chicago" by Anna C. Artkamper, then President of the Ogden Park Quilting Club, Chicago. This article establishes that the quilting club in Ogden Park was the first such club created and that it began in January 1925. "In January, 1925, there appeared an article in the Southtown Community paper inviting women interested in quilting to register with the Director of Ogden Park, one of the parks maintained by the Chicago South Park Commission. That was the beginning of it all, and a very enthusiastic group of women organized a club which is the first of of its kind in any Chicago community center. The club, which has officers, meets one day each week from ten until four. Members bring their lunch, and coffee is served at noon. At this time the business meeting is held and members exchange ideas on the subject of quilts. Mothers with children under school age are allowed to bring them. They, too, are enthusiastic over club day, for the park and the toys and games which are supplied offer many joys. We have the use of a well-ventilated sunshiny hall at the field house with French windows completely covering three sides, and a floor space which will accommodate four quilt frames at one time an ideal place for club use. The plan we follow in making the quilts is this. Each member makes her own quilt top and in turn, according to attendance, the quilt is put on a frame and all help in quilting. At the end of the day, the end pieces of the frame are taken off, the quilt is rolled up, safely wrapped in a rope sling and drawn up by pullies to the beam ceiling, where it is safely tucked out of harm's way until the next week. Some of our members have made original patterns. Ideas are gathered from Marseilles bed spreads, rugs, wall paper, tapestry and other sources. We also use somer of the patterns that are on the market with the usual squares, diamonds, scrolls and other stock designs, but after the additions and changes the finished quilt is usually quite original. It is surprising how many things about one's home are suggestive for patterns. While quilting is our hobby, husbands an d children are not forgotten! Occasionally, we have dancing parties and buffet luncheons, with picnics in the summer for the children. The ages of our members range from twenty-five to seventy years. Two-thirds of us have bobbed hair, so we do not consider ourselves old-fashioned even though we are engaged in reviving the old art. On this one day of the week each member forgets household cares. While quilting, we sing songs, old and new, and discuss topics of the day. The club is immensely popular. We have had many requests for membership, but we have found it necessary to limit the number to forty, believing it is advisable to have small groups and to increase the number of them. Progressive women of the present day are realizing more than ever the importance of using their spare time in producing useful and beautiful things for the home. A day each week, spent in the company of women with mutual interests, gives a home-loving woman enjoyment and is profitable as well."

"Bright and Gay Tulips Nod from Interesting Quilt" Tulip Basket By Nancy Cabot, undated clipping from The Chicago Tribune. Collection of Susan Salser.

A family photograph shows this quilt (along with others) airing on a clothesline in the back yard of 5317 University Ave., Chicago, the Krueger home.

Color photograph of this quilt featured in “One American Dream Comes True” by Merikay Waldvogel, Quilters Newsletter, March 2008, p.46.

Press photograph from The Detroit News, private collection, Susan Salser. On the back of this photograph (which was not published) is written "Detroit News Quilt Show at Naval Armory, 1935". It is stamped Oct 22, 1935. Gasperik Tulip Basket quilt can be seen on display at the end of an aisle.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Karen Krueger Finn

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Person filling out this form is:

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:

In making this quilt Gasperik created her own border design to surround a Nancy Cabot Tulip Basket block pattern she got from her newspaper. She is not trying to duplicate something, she is actively redesigning it. 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

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group?

Chicago, IL

What are the main activities of the group?

Group showings of quilts and quilting demonstrations.

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:

Susan Salser

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