QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-47

DESCRIPTION:

Made for a wedding, this quilt is one of the earliest and best documented quilts Gasperik made. She inscribed it with dates and her initials. It was photographed hanging at a 1936 Tuley Park Quilt Show and it was mentioned in a 1936 Detroit News column in which the writer described the Bridal Bouquet quilt as being "from her own design." The quilt was sent to a niece in 1944 in California for her wedding. In 1972, she donated it to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Acc. #CR.72.18). Compare this quilt to Bridal Bouquet (#012) made several years later.

ESSAY:

This ‘Bridal Bouquet’ is quilted “1933” on the front, and the year “1936” and initials “MG” are embroidered on the back. "It is from her own design" is the description of this quilt's pattern source presented by Edith B. Crumb in her Detroit News column published on February 11, 1936. The column was about the Mary’s Double Feather Star quilt which arrived too late for a Detroit News quilt show, but it also discussed this Bridal Bouquet quilt. Edith devoted much of her column to the subject of Mary Gasperik. She presents a most delightful account of just how it is that Mary Gasperik discovered Edith's Detroit News Quilt Club Corner. I would like to thank Merikay Waldvogel for sending me a copy of this column. Here is the full quotation concerning this quilt and the story of how Mary Gasperik found Edith B. Crumb and her Detroit Quilt Club Corner:
BRIDAL BOUQUET DESIGN When that one is finished she has another quilt to put on the frames. It is called the "Bridal Bouquet" and she is planning to give it to her niece as a wedding present. It is from her own design. Perhaps some of you met Mrs. Gasperik at the show last fall. The first she knew about our Quilt Club Corner was one day when she attended the World Series in Chicago. Someone dropped a Detroit News and she picked it up and looked right into our Corner. Then she started to write to us, sent quilts for the show (some of them arrived in time) and she even took the bus over to Detroit so as to be with us two days of the show.

The 1935 World Series was played between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Mary Gasperik would have picked up that Detroit News on October 4th, 5th or 6th, 1935. For the next five years she maintained an active correspondence with Edith B. Crumb and was an enthusiastic participant in the Detroit News quilt shows which Edith directed. Edith's support was as important in changing the direction of Mary's life as was the Sears quilt contest and exhibition of quilts at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair! It seems to me that Mary Gasperik made many of her 'best' quilts in this same five-year period.

An undated typed form letter survives which Mary created in order to participate in the Club's pattern sharing activities. It reads, in full:
Dear _______ Let me welcome you as a new meber [sic] to our Quilt Club Corner. I, too am a new member, having recently joined. I have read of you through the Detroit News. I thought I would drop you a line to ask of you a favor. I am making a State Quilt. I wonder if you would be willing to exchange blocks with me. I would be willing to maki [sic] you a block (in any pattern you choose) if you would make me one. Enclosed you will find a pattern of my block, will you please out line your Name, City and State. If you do this for me, I will make up your block as soon as I receive your pattern. If you know of any body in another State who is willing to exchange blocks with me, would you please let me know. I would be very grateful and appreciate it very much. Hoping to hear from you I remain your Quilting friend. Mary Gasperik 9314 Cottage Grove Chicago Illinois.

Note that Mary spelled the word ‘make’ as “maki”. But this is how my grandmother pronounced the word ‘make’; I remember it vividly!

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Mary Gasperik Private Collection Online

CONTRIBUTING INSTITUTIONAL INVENTORY CONTROL NUMBERS: Enter the main control number for this item you are entering.

074 (LACMA: CR.72.18)

ALTERNATIVE INVENTORY CONTROL NUMBER: Enter any alternate inventory control number for this quilt, like a museum accession number.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art Accession Number: CR.72.18

TYPE OF QUILT OBJECT: Choose the best description for the quilt being documented.

Finished quilt

QUILT'S TITLE, IF IT HAS ONE: Many quilts have no title, but contemporary quilters often give a name to their quilts.

Wedding Quilt

OWNER'S NAME FOR QUILT'S PATTERN: Enter the name given to the quilt by the owner. This can be the name the family used to refer to the quilt as it passed through different generations, e.g. "Aunt Susie's quilt" or a pattern name that the owner used.

Wedding Quilt (owned by Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a gift of Mary Bruland)

ALTERNATE NAME(S) FOR QUILT'S PATTERN IN COMMON USE: This is the name of the quilt pattern that it is commonly used among quilt makers and historians. It may be different in different regions of the country.

"Bridal Bouquet" (Mary Bruland)

BRACKMAN NUMBER: If you have used Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns or Applique to identify the pattern, enter the number assigned by Brackman here.

Applique #32.85 Lily of the Valley

OVERALL WIDTH: Enter how wide the quilt is.

77 inches

OVERALL LENGTH: Enter how long the quilt is.

90 inches

SHAPE OF EDGE: Choose the best description for the edges of the quilt.

Scalloped

SHAPE OF CORNERS: Choose the best description for the corners of the quilt.

Scalloped

PREDOMINANT COLOR(S): Enter all colors that are found in the quilt.

Coral; Cream; Green; White

OVERALL COLOR SCHEME: Choose the best color scheme description for the quilt being documented.

Light or pastel colors

OVERALL CONDITION: Choose the best description for the quilt being documented.

Excellent/like new

TYPE(S) OF INSCRIPTION: Choose all the options that are found on the quilt.

Date; Initials

CONTENT OF INSCRIPTION(S): Enter the exact inscription here, including dates in the same form in which they appear on the quilt. Do not correct any spellings. If you are unsure of a letter or name, place a (?) to indicate uncertainty.

"1933" quilted in on the front; "M. G. 1936/ Chicago, Ill." embroidered on the back.

DATE OF INSCRIPTION: Enter the date found on the quilt.

1933 - 1936

METHOD OF INSCRIPTION: Choose the method used to inscribe the quilt.

Embroidery; In the quilting

LOCATION OF INSCRIPTION: Enter where the inscription was found on the quilt.

multiple locations

OTHER LOCATION OF INSCRIPTION: If you chose Other, please describe where the inscription was found.

On front and on back

TIME PERIOD: Choose the time frame that best describes when the quilt was made. The date does not have to appear on the quilt to enter it in this field. This can be your best guess based on family stories or your own knowledge of quilts.

1930-1949

DATE BEGUN: Enter the date the quilt was started.

1933

DATE FINISHED: Enter the date the quilt was finished.

1936

FAMILY/OWNER'S DATE FOR QUILT: If there are family stories that indicate a date when the quilt was made, enter that date.

1936

OTHER EXTERNAL OR PROFESSIONAL DATE ESTIMATION: If the date was estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser, enter that date.

1936

OTHER DATE ESTIMATION BY WHOM: Enter the name and/or title of the person who estimated the quilt's date for field 23d.

Merikay Waldvogel

FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING DATE(S): If you know anything else about the date the quilt was made, please tell the story.

In addition to the embroidered dates on the quilt, there is a b/w photo (Oct 30, 1936) in which Tuley Park members are standing with the quilt. There is also a Detroit News (Feb 11, 1936) column that describes this quilt.

LAYOUT FORMAT: Choose the best description for the layout (or set) of the quilt.

Medallion or framed center

SUBJECT OF QUILT, IF IT HAS ONE: Some quilts are made with a specific intent (e.g. Commemoration of September 11, the 100th anniversary of a town, or an AIDS panel). Enter the subject of the quilt.

Wedding

NUMBER OF BORDERS: Borders are the strips of fabric that are added after the blocks (and sashings) are put together. They appear on the outside edges of the quilt. Quilts often have multiple borders. Enter the number of borders on the quilt.

1

BORDER DESCRIPTION: Describe the style of the borders (i.e. pieced, appliqued, stenciled) and the width of each border, from the inside to the outside.

Center panel with scalloped edges is surrounded by a wide white area which is surrounded by a narrow border on all four sides.

FABRIC FIBER TYPES USED IN QUILT TOP: Choose all the types of fiber that are used to make the quilt top.

Cotton

FABRIC PATTERNS, STYLES, MOTIFS, OR PRINT CATEGORIES USED IN QUILT TOP: Choose all the types of prints that are used to make the quilt top.

Print; Solid/plain

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED IN QUILT TOP: APPLIQUE TECHNIQUES: Choose the applique method used to construct the quilt.

Hand Applique

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED IN QUILT TOP: EMBELLISHMENT TECHNIQUES: Choose the embellishment technique used to make the quilt.

Embroidery

FABRIC FIBER TYPES USED IN QUILT BACK: Choose the fiber type used to make the quilt back.

Cotton

COLOR OF BACKING: Enter all colors that are found in the quilt backing.

Green

DESCRIPTION OF BACK: Choose the best description for the back of the quilt.

Same fabric used throughout

MATERIALS USED IN QUILT BINDING: Choose the fiber type used to make the quilt binding.

Cotton

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED IN BINDING: Choose the construction technique used to make the quilt binding.

Bias grain

WIDTH OF QUILT BINDING: Choose the width (in inches) of the binding of the quilt. Measure from the front side only.

less than a half inch

MATERIAL USED FOR QUILT BATTING OR FILLING: Choose the fiber content that best describes the material used to fill the quilt.

Cotton

QUILTING TECHNIQUES USED: Choose the technique that best describes the way the quilt layers are held together.

Hand quilting

THREAD COLOR: Enter the color(s) of thread used to hold the quilt layers together.

white

QUILTING DESIGNS USED: MOTIFS/OVERALL PATTERNS: Choose the overall quilt design found on the quilt top.

Clamshell; Single parallel lines

QUILTING DESIGNS USED: DECORATIVE PATTERNS: Choose the decorative quilt design found on the quilt top.

Other

QUILTING DESIGNS USED: BACKGROUND FILL PATTERNS: Choose the background quilt design found on the quilt top.

Parallel lines

PLEASE DESCRIBE OTHER QUILTING DESIGNS USED: Describe any other quilting designs that appear on the quilt.

Fern designs are quilted in the center panel behind the wedding bouquet.

ANY OTHER FEATURES OR NOTES ABOUT THE QUILT'S APPEARANCE, MATERIALS, OR CONSTRUCTION: Describe anything about the physical appearance of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field.

Compare this quilt to the 1944 version (#012), which shows a higher level of skill and design. It is interesting to note that three white calla lilies appliqued into the bouquet of this quilt do NOT use the Detroit News pattern seen on quilt #012. Remember that the front of this quilt is dated 1933, and Gasperik attended her first Detroit News quilt show in October of 1935, which is probably where she picked up the Detroit News Calla Lilies pattern. But Gasperik reused the patterns found on this quilt (both of the rose and of the calla lilies) on quilt #012, which was made in 1944.

QUILT TOP MADE BY: Enter the name of the person(s) who made the quilt top.

Gasperik, Mary

QUILTED BY: Enter the name of the person(s) who quilted the top.

Gasperik, Mary

CITY: Enter the name of the city where the quilt was made.

Chicago

COUNTY: Enter the name of the county where the quilt was made.

Cook County

STATE: Enter the name of the state where the quilt was made.

Illinois (IL)

COUNTRY: Enter the name of the country where the quilt was made.

United States

HOW WAS QUILT ACQUIRED BY OWNER: Choose the best description for how the owner acquired the quilt.

Gift

QUILTMAKER'S REASONS FOR MAKING THE QUILT: If the quilt was made for a specific purpose, choose the reason from the list.

Wedding

PLEASE EXPLAIN OTHER OCCASION, IF APPLICABLE: If you chose Other, please explain the occasion.

Quilt was made as a wedding gift possibly for her daughter Elsie's wedding, but finally was given to her niece (Mary Kiss Bruland) in 1944 as a wedding present.

QUILT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO BE USED AS: Choose how the quilt was originally used.

Bedding, special occasion

QUILT IS PRESENTLY USED AS: Choose how the quilt is being used by the present owner.

Museum collection

SOURCE OF QUILT'S MATERIALS: Choose how the quilt maker acquired the fabric for this quilt.

Purchased new

QUILT TOP PATTERN SOURCE: Choose where the quilt maker found the pattern for this quilt.

Commercial/Published source: Pattern; Unknown

COMMERCIAL SOURCE NAME(S): If you know the commercial name of the pattern used for this quilt, please enter it. This may include books, magazines, newsletters, pattern companies, computer software programs, and kits.

Nancy Cabot Rose Petals and Nancy Cabot Lily of the Valley. Flower girl applique pattern is #363 Old Fashioned Lady pictured on page 4 of Prize Winning Design. Many Quilt Patterns Never Before Published, a 1933 "Aunt Martha" booklet.

QUILTING DESIGN PATTERN SOURCE: Choose where the quilt maker found the pattern for the quilting design used in this quilt.

Published material

COMMERCIAL QUILTING DESIGN SOURCE NAME: If you know the commercial name of the quilting design used for this quilt, please enter it. This may include books, magazines, newsletters, pattern companies, etc.

Fern quilting motif is #C5573 - "Aunt Martha's Answer To 'How Shall I Quilt It?'"

ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES OR STORIES ABOUT THE QUILT'S DESIGN OR MATERIALS SOURCE: Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field.

The family has Gasperik's own copy of Prize Winning Design from 'Aunt Martha'. Gasperik probably sent away for patterns from this catalog. Just below "#363 Old Fashioned Lady", on page 4, appears another pattern Gasperik used: "#365 The Cottage Behind the Hill by Mrs. F.L. Anderson, Kearney, Neb." Gasperik made a block (#086) from #365, probably to take to the Detroit News Quilt Show held in April, 1937.

A special corner of the Detroit News Quilt Show was furnished especially for Detroit News Quilt Club Corner members to socialize, sew, and exchange blocks. Although pattern sources for several applique elements appearing on this quilt can be identified, it should be noted that Gasperik herself described Bridal Bouquet as an "original design" to Detroit News quilt editor Edith B. Crumb, who published a column largely devoted to the subject of Mary Gasperik and her quilts in the February 11, 1936 newspaper. Edith's support, which began in 1935 and continued through the last Detroit quit show in 1940, was as important in changing the direction of Mary's life as was the Sears quilt contest and quilt exhibition at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, the place where Gasperik fell under the spell of quilts.

EXHIBITIONS: List all known exhibits where this quilt has been displayed.

October 30, 1936 Tuley Park Quilt Club Show, Chicago, Illinois.

CONTESTS ENTERED: List contest(s) entered.

A yellow paper exhibit tag (probably used at a Tuley Park quilt show) reads "Bridal Wreath by Mrs. M. Gasperik 2nd Prize Springfield 1940". In Elsie's handwriting is the added notation "?to Mary Buland?". This may indicate the quilt was entered in the 1940 Illinois State Fair, where it won a second prize.

OTHER RELATED ITEMS: List other materials that exist about this quilt like oral histories, wills, diaries, or patterns.

Two Chicago Park District Photos (10/30/36) - Wedding Bouquet Quilt and Members of Tuley Park Quilt Club standing in front of it. And another overhead view of the quilt exhibit and Wedding Bouquet is visible at left. 4 Gasperik quilts can be spotted in this overhead view: the 1935 Double Feather Star (#045), Four Little Pigs (#057), Laurel Wreath (#067) and Wedding Bouquet (#074).

Mary Gasperik's copy of "Prize Winning Design... Many Quilt Patterns Never Before Published", Aunt Martha, 1933. Private family collection.

AVAILABLE SOURCES FOR QUILTMAKER: List other source materials about this quiltmaker such as photos, oral histories, book or newspaper publications, fame for some other reason or event.

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.

OWNERSHIP OF THIS QUILT IS:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

NAME OF QUILT OWNER:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (Access # CR.72.18)

QUILT OWNER'S CITY:

Los Angeles,CA

QUILT OWNER'S STATE:

California (CA)

QUILT OWNER'S COUNTRY:

United States

AUTHOR/INTERVIEWEE'S RELATION TO THE QUILT:

Author/researcher; Blood relative of quiltmaker

OTHER RELATIONSHIP TO SOURCE: If you chose Other, for the relationship to the source, describe the relationship here.

Grand-daughter

OTHER INFORMATION ON SOURCE PERSON TO QUILT:

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

DEATH DATE OF THE QUILTMAKER, IF APPLICABLE:

05/25/1969

QUILTMAKER'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Hungarian

QUILTMAKER'S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Elementary School

QUILTMAKER'S COUNTRY OF BIRTH:

Hungary

IN WHICH KIND OF ENVIRONMENT DID THE QUILTMAKER GROW UP?

Rural

CITY WHERE THE QUILTMAKER LIVES/LIVED:

Chicago

COUNTY WHERE THE QUILTMAKER LIVES/LIVED:

Cook

STATE WHERE THE QUILTMAKER LIVES/LIVED:

Illinois (IL)

COUNTRY WHERE THE QUILTMAKER LIVES/LIVED:

United States

QUILTMAKER'S FATHER'S NAME:

Mihalovits, Istvan

FATHER'S BIRTHPLACE:

Hungary

FATHER'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Hungarian

QUILTMAKER'S MOTHER'S NAME:

Mihalovits, Vidoszava

MOTHER'S BIRTHPLACE:

Hungary

MOTHER'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Hungarian

SPOUSE'S ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Hungarian

SPOUSE'S OCCUPATION:

Milk Dealer/Grocery Store Owner/Butcher

NUMBER OF CHILDREN:

3

NUMBER OF FEMALE CHILDREN:

1 (Elsie 1909-1988)

NUMBER OF MALE CHILDREN:

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/DID THE QUILTMAKER QUILT:

Pleasure; Other

OTHER, WHY THE QUILTMAKER QUILTS:

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. This quilt was made while Gasperik was an active member of the Tuley Park Quilting Club at a time when that club was being very actively promoted and supported by the Chicago Park District, as a photograph of the quilt on display at the park club meeting room demonstrates. Gasperik chose to give it as a wedding present to her niece several years after it was completed. The approval and support of the Tuley Park quilters was an important motivation to Gasperik.

NAME OF QUILTING GROUP: If the quilt maker belonged to a group, enter the name of the group.

Tuley Park Quilt Club and Detroit News Quilt Club

LOCATION OF GROUP:

Southside Chicago and Detroit MI

SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES/EVENTS OF QUILTING GROUP: Enter activities the group participated in.

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

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF QUILTS MADE BY THIS QUILTER:

more than 50

DID THE QUILTMAKER SELL QUILTS?

no

DOES/DID QUILTMAKER TEACH QUILTING: Is the quilt maker also a quilt teacher?

no

PHOTO CREDIT:

Los Angeles County Museum, Gift of Mary Bruland

ACCESS AND COPYRIGHT IS:

Restricted

HOLDER OF COPYRIGHT:

Los Angeles Museum Association/LACMA

Details

• 
•