QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-1394

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

International Quilt Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Oregon Quilt Project; Harney County Historical Society and Museum

Oregon Quilt Project ID#:

2018.HY.HCM.19

Alternate inventory control number:

Harney County Historical Society #787

Documentation Site:

Harney County Museum, Burns OR

Date data collected:

04-24-2018

Quilt's title:

Lincoln Quilt

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library, or Institution

Owner's Name:

Harney County Historical Society

Quilt owner's city:

Burns

State

Oregon (OR)

Quilt owner's county:

Harney

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quilt name or pattern used by family/owner:

Lincoln Quilt

Owner's relationship to quiltmaker (if any):

Quilt owner

How was quilt acquired by owner?

Gift

Occasion, date, person inherited from, etc:

Donated by Eben Ray, Sr.

Any additional stories or notes about the quilt's history or ownership?
Who will inherit this quilt?

Story associated with the quilt says that Abraham Lincoln assisted with quilting when he stopped by the family farm for a visit. The cotton was raised by Amanda's father, Jacob Cowels, and used in the padding. When William M. Ray was 18 years old, the quilt was given to him by his mother, Amanda (Cowels) Ray. In 1926, William gave the quilt to his daughter, Mrs. Elmo (Ila) King. The original of this copy was signed by Mrs. King at Otis, Oregon in 1928. The quilt was then given to her brother Eben Ray, by her family on her death in 1980.

Date finished:

1854

Country:

United States

Top made by:

Ray, Amanda Cowels

Quilted by:

Ray, Amanda Cowels; Lincoln, Abraham

Please give other stories, customs, or interesting information about this quilt:

This Oceans Wave quilt is known as the Lincoln Quilt because Abraham Lincoln assisted in the quilting while visiting the quilt maker's family. The Harney County Historical Society dates this quilt to 1854 because Abraham Lincoln was living in Illinois in 1854 while running for Congress.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Overall width (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

65"

Overall length (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

68"

Block Size: width x length

18 x 18"

Block Pattern Name:

Ocean Waves

Brackman # or other source & #:

BB# 2628

Sashing width:

no sashing

Width: (in inches, to the nearest 1/2") _1 _2 _3 _____other

1", 2", 2" 1-1/2"

Quilt Layout Format:

Block pattern

For quilts with a block format, describe how the quilt blocks are set together:

Side by side

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Pink; White

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Quilt-Specific Colors:

Double Pink

Damage to Quilt:

Disintegration of fabric; Fading; Tears or holes; Wear to edge or binding

Overall Condition:

Poor/very worn

Comments or notes on quilt's condition or repair history:

Edge stabilized by machine with patches.

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1854

Approximate date of estimation:

1830-1860

By Whom (OQP member):

SB

Date Time Frame:

1800-1849

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Dotted; Floral

Quilt Top Construction
Piecing techniques:

Hand Piecing

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

10 stitches per inch

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

White

Width between quilting lines:

1" medium

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

Double parallel lines

Background Fill Patterns:

None

Binding:

Back turned to front

Width of Binding:

half inch - one inch

Specific Width of Binding (measurement to nearest 1/16"):

1/2"

Quilt Batting
Materials Used:

Cotton

Describe the quilt filling:

Cotton for batting grown by Jacob Cowels, father of quilt maker Amanda Cowels.

Quilt Back Materials:

Cotton

Predominate Color of Backing:

White

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

30 + 32 + 6-1/2"

Describe the back:

Hand sewn; Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Who photographed this quilt?

EF

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Oregon Quilt Project

Source of Quilt's Materials:

Unknown

Quilt Top Pattern Source:

Public domain/traditional pattern

Details

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