QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-90

Description:

Appliqué block made for grand-daughter in 1944. See also the Indian Quilts, from which this single Indian was probably inspired. It should be noted that all 7 Indians quilts (which were made in two groups ten years apart), as well as the 6 individual appliqué Indian pictures, are constructed from the same universe of fabrics. If Gasperik's pattern source was a commercial kit, then she would have had to purchase at least 13 kits. And she would have had to anticipate (in 1944) that she would need all of those kits. That seems unlikely. The pattern source(s) of the Gasperik Indians series remains a mystery.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

090

This is a:

Quilt blocks or pieces

Quilt's title:

Indian Block

Owner's name for quilt:

Indian Block (Susan)

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Describe the damage:

Must be somewhat sun-faded, since all three framed Krueger Indians hung on the wall of our bedrooms while we were growing up.

Type of inscription:

Date; Single

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"Susan. 1944"

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1944

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Describe where the inscription was found:

on front

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1944

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1944

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Subject of the quilt:

Indian child

Number of quilt blocks:

1

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

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

Applique bunch of balloons added to whatever the source of the Indian pattern itself is.

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

No filling

How are the layers held together?

Not quilted

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

no

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:

Salser is not sure if we (Krueger granddaughters) were given the framed individual Indian pictures at the same time we were given our Indians quilts (#028, #039 and #056), although that seems logical. We weren't allowed to use our Indians quilts on a daily basis. It is possible the framed appliques were a (much appreciated) compromise.

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

In the series of framed Indians given in 1954 to Elmer Gasperik's sons, Gasperik matched the order of the Indians (with the eldest boy, being the chief) to the order of the three boys: the second born is Indian #2 and the third son is Indian #3. Even though Linda was Krueger girl #2, she preferred the fabrics and headdress of Indian #3. Being #3 in the Krueger order of birth, Susan recalls being rather pleased that she got to be Indian #2 (rather than #3) and that she was allowed to request the added balloons she is holding in her framed picture (#090).

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

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?

Unknown

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Unknown

Describe the source of the pattern:

Design source might be a kit--not yet identified, or a set of commercial block patterns, or even a pattern Gasperik and her daughter Elsie created from book illustrations. Gasperik could even have combined elements from those sources.

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:

Susan Salser had the interior of her framed Indian professionally scanned (by A&I in Santa Monica California) on their commercial flatbed scanner April 22, 2008. This life-sized scan shows in exquisite detail the Gasperik fabrics and stitches.

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; 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