QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-84

Description:

This late 1930s quilt reflects the type of quilt she made for everyday use. During the war years, Edith Crumb, the director of Detroit's Quilt Club Corner, Mary's Detroit quilt club, especially encouraged member quilters to make blanket substitutes pieced from woolen scraps. Although Mary could not participate in the Friday afternoon meetings of the Club, she corresponded with members.

Essay:

This late 1930s quilt reflects the type of quilt she made for everyday use. Supplies of cotton fabric were diminished due to WWII rationing, and quilters were urged to participate in the war effort by making scrap quilts, not only for personal use but for veterans and for American relief efforts in Europe. Mary's daughter Elsie made almost all of the clothing for her three daughters. The Krueger girls recognize quite a few of the scraps used in their grandmother's war time comforters (see also #050). These comforters were heavily used in their house.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

036

This is a:

Other

Describe the item:

Tied Lap Robe

Quilt's title:

Trip Around the World

Owner's name for quilt:

Trip Around the World (Linda)

How wide is the quilt?

56 inches

How long is the quilt?

71 inches

Shape of edge:

Other

Describe the edge:

Top and bottom are straight; sides are fnished with sateen prairie points

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Blue or Navy; Brown; Gray; Green; Maroon; Rust

Overall color scheme:

Dark colors

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1938

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1938

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

She made a similar quilt which carries an embroidered date: 1938.

Describe the quilt's layout:

One patch or allover

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout

Describe the borders:

Side borders of green sateen prairie points

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Wool; Other

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Corduroy

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Other embellishment technique

Describe any unusual techniques used to make the quilt top:

side borders embellished with prairie points

Materials used to make the back:

Other

Description of the back:

cotton sateen

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

How is the binding made?

Prairie Points

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Blanket or flannel

How are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

Thread type used for the quilting:

yarn

Color of thread used in the quilting:

yellow and lime green

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

This is owner Linda MacLachlan's description, written in 1992: "Rectangles of mauve, blue, beige, rust and red corduroy, green velveteen, black wool, black and white tweeds, red, green and black tartans and green and white upholstery fabric. Lined with white flannel and tied with lime and yellow yarn. Green cotton prairie points in the same fabric as the backing edge the two sides. The center corduroy rectangle is pieced so that the wales form striking concentric diamonds. This was made of fabrics supplied by my mother. I have fond memories of clothes and doll clothes made by my mother for me from the same fabrics."

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

Why was the quilt made?

Other

Details about why the quilt was made:

Gasperik pieced these woolen quilts for daily use. Elsie contributed the scraps from winter clothes-making projects.

The quilt was made to be used for:

Decorative throw

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento; Lap robe/shawl

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?

Sewing scraps

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Traditional pattern variation

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Not exhibited inThe Quilts of Mary Gasperik, Ravenswood Historic Site, Livermore, CA, March 14-15, 1992.

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:

Linda Krueger MacLachlan

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:

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?

Chicago, IL 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?

Don Gonzalez

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Susan Salser