QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-64

Description:

This 1940s Doll Quilt was made for grand-daughter Susan Krueger. It has a matching pillowcase. Gasperik's pattern source might have been an illustration for the nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down", although the needlework pattern or quilt kit source has not been identified. See also #054 What Are Little Girls Made Of? another doll quilt made by Gasperik.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

038

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Doll Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Doll Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

21 inches

How long is the quilt?

22 inches

Shape of edge:

Scalloped

Shape of corners:

Scalloped

What color is the quilt?

Rust; White

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1945

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1945

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

1940s

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

Made for grand-daughter born in 1940

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Describe the borders:

One wide border scalloped on the outer edge.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

White

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Describe the back:

Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

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

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

10

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

11

Width between quilting lines:

.5"

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

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

All-over-design; Patches outlined/in the ditch; Single parallel lines

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

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:

I remember using this quilt a lot in my doll buggy. It was probably given to me when I was about 5 (ie 1945).

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

Dolls, and doll buggies, and playing with dolls - these were very important in our 3-sisters household.

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

The quilt was made to be used for:

Doll quilt/toy

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?

Unknown

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Source of applique figures not found.

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

This doll quilt has a matching pillowcase, which may indicate it was a doll quilt kit or pattern rather than a quilt block design. One has to wonder , if this was a commercial pattern or kit, if it might have been named "London Bridge", as in the nursery rhyme song. It looks like these two girls are playing London Bridge.

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.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Susan Krueger Salser

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker; Quilt owner; 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:

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 and Detroit News Quilt Club

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group?

Southside Chicago and Detroit MI

What are the main activities of the group?

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

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?

Bruce Morr

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Susan Salser

Details

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