QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-85

Essay:

This is one of several remembered tacked patchwork comforters. Only two remain--this full-size one and a lap robe (See #036). Fabrics in this quilt may reflect the fabric shortages of WWII. These wool and corduroy scraps were from clothing Gasperik's daughter sewed for herself and her three daughters.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

050

This is a:

Other

Describe the item:

Tied wool comforter

Quilt's title:

Trip Around the World

Owner's name for quilt:

Trip Around the World (Karen)

How wide is the quilt?

63 inches

How long is the quilt?

86 inches

Shape of edge:

Other

Describe the edge:

prairie pints along sides, straight across top and bottom

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue or Navy; Brown; Cream; Gray; Red

Overall color scheme:

Dark colors

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Type of inscription:

Date; Initials; Place

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"M. G. 1938 Chicago - Ill."

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1938

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

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

Describe the quilt's layout:

One patch or allover

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout; Squares

Number of borders:

None

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Wool

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Other

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Corduroy

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton; Satin/Sateen

Description of the back:

cotton sateen

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

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:

wool yarm

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:

made for practical, daily, winter use

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, daily use

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?

Sewing scraps

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

Left over from tailored suit projects.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Traditional pattern variation

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

The Krueger girls (Karen, Linda and Susan) recognize many of the fabrics in Gasperik's tied winter comforters as left-overs from their mother's sewing projects. Elsie sewed all of her girls' winter clothing: coats, pants, skirts, blouses... on up to prom and wedding dresses. At the time the comforters were made (late 1930s and early 1940s) we weren't yet at the prom and wedding dress stage!

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:

Although this quilt was not exhibited at the family's 1992 exhibit The Quilts of Mary Gasperik, Ravenswood Historic Site,, Karen Krueger Finn registered this quilt with this statement: "This is one of at least 6 similar tacked patchwork comforters (quilts) I remember. This one is probably one of the latest. The forest green back is embroidered with 'M. G. 1938 Chicago - Ill.' The materials are an assortment of wools and corduroy, most if not all, provided by my mother, who specialized in practical, wearable, tailored sewing (opposite of her mother Mary Gasperik). Until the end of World War II brought an abundance of surplus army, navy blankets, my grandmother used these on her own beds. She made them for our family also."

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:

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