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This Quaint Old Quilt Was Made by Mrs. Lincoln
October 23, 1933
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A portion of a Beauty in the Home column including a list of prizes for the Contest, a story about a quilt made by Mrs Lincoln, and letters from Quilt Club members.
Beauty in the Home
This Quaint Old Quilt Was Made by Mrs. Lincoln
by Edith B. Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and address Beauty in the Home department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers but names and addresses will not be made public.
MRS. VIOLET AVEY, of Milan, Michigan, showing quilt which she has entered in The Detroit News Contest. This quilt was made by Mrs. Abraham Lincoln for Mrs. Mary Grimsley of Springfield, Illinois.
EVERY day something more interesting happens in regard to the quilts to be entered in the Contest. Last week I mentioned that there was to be a quilt which had been made by Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and Friday the processor of this quilt laid it on my desk (and it had not been out of moth balls very long), so I thought you might like to see what this quilt is really like.
In the illustration you see Mrs. Violet Avey of Milan, Michigan, who now owns the quilt. It is in red and white, although the red is somewhat faded from hard use and age. Originally I imagine it was a bright turkey red, and the design is a single Irish chain.
This quilt, which is crib size, was made by Mrs. Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, for Mrs. Mary Grimsley, who was a lifelong resident of that city and was a daughter of Richard Burch, a member of one of the pioneer families of Springfield. She was also the great niece of Jesse B. Thomas, one of the first two United States senators from Illinois. The last meal of which Mrs. Lincoln partook before leaving for Washington in 1860 was prepared by Mrs. Grimsley. Mrs. Grimsley gave the quilt to Mrs. Avery who is generous enough to exhibit it so that those who are interested in historical pieces may see it. The quilt is very ragged but there is still evidence of fine workmanship and careful cutting and planning.
In the Saturday’s morning mail I found a note from Mrs. Katherine Crowley, 1419 Vermont Avenue, saying that she plans to enter a quilt made in 1791. Aren’t you anxious to see what pattern this is?
Then, Mrs. J. G. Heilemann, 112 Division St., Coldwater, Michigan has a quilt 106 years old which has never been on display and she is going to bring it to our Contest. Doesn’t that sound interesting?
You may bring your quilts any time now to the main office of The Detroit News, Lafayette and Second Blvd., and in exchange you will be given a claim check. Please remember to write your name, address and whatever remarks you wish to make about the quilt on a piece of cloth or heavy paper and sew it to the back of the quilt. This will be for your own protection and do away with confusion after the contest.
Have you sent in your entry slip yet? If not try to do so as quickly as possible. Remember, if your quilt is new it must be from a News pattern and it must be either a completed quilt or just a top. If it is an antique it must be at least 50 years old.
WELL, I am on the last lap of my Trip, and, if the fingers hold out, it will be with all of the others at the contest in November. I hardly expect to be there myself (and I am very disappointed), but glad there is to be an extension of crime for those not quite ready. I have to make a trip to Detroit in October, so will not be in the city in November too. But here’s hoping you all have a lovely time, and I know I shall be thinking of you all at that time.
Fall is here again, and how beautiful all the leaves are! Sunsets, too, seem so much more gorgeous this time of the year.
MRS. ALBERT BOWEN,
Lake George, Michigan.
Everyone is going to be so disappointed not to have you at the contest, Mrs. Bowen. After reading your letters they must feel well acquainted with you.
I am glad that you are planning on entering a quilt, however, and I do hope that your fingers hold out until you get it finished. There is plenty of time, however, but don’t let it go until the last minute for it will be so much harder to finish it if you do. Don’t forget to write again.
I HAVE finished my Double Wedding Ring quilt and have another one all ready to sew. I also have started the Dresden Plate, but am sorry it will not be finished for the contest. After I finished my quilt I washed it and the colors all came out lovely, not one little piece faded, so I am going to enter it in the contest.
I enjoy the Corner very much. Am I a member?
MRS. IDA GOHL,
5343 Army, Detroit, Mich.
…(clipping cut off)
$500 in Prizes at Quilt Contest
This is to remind you of that Quilt Contest that is to be held in November and to urge you to send in your application for entry as quickly as possible. If you have made a quilt from a Detroit News pattern, whether you belong to the Quilt Club or not you are welcome to enter a quilt. This may be a completed quilt or a top from a Detroit News pattern and if you have an antique quilt, 50 years or more old, you may also enter this. There is no limit to the number of quilts you may enter.
The prizes are as follows:
First Grand Prize….$100.00
Second Grand Prize.. 50.00
Third Grand Prize….25.00
There will be three prizes for appliqued quilts as follows (these must be completed quilts):
1st ………..$50.00
2nd………….25.00
3rd………10.000
And there will also be three prizes for tops only, in appliqued design, as follows: 1st …….$35.00
2nd……..20.00
3rd……10.000
For quilt tops which are of piecework designs there are to be three prizes:
1st…………$35.00
2nd………..20.00 3rd……………10.00
And for the children’s and young girls’ quilts there will be two prizes as follows
1st………………$15
2nd………………10.00
There will be ribbon awards for the antique quilts and coverlets.
Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.
This Quaint Old Quilt Was Made by Mrs. Lincoln
by Edith B. Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and address Beauty in the Home department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers but names and addresses will not be made public.
MRS. VIOLET AVEY, of Milan, Michigan, showing quilt which she has entered in The Detroit News Contest. This quilt was made by Mrs. Abraham Lincoln for Mrs. Mary Grimsley of Springfield, Illinois.
EVERY day something more interesting happens in regard to the quilts to be entered in the Contest. Last week I mentioned that there was to be a quilt which had been made by Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and Friday the processor of this quilt laid it on my desk (and it had not been out of moth balls very long), so I thought you might like to see what this quilt is really like.
In the illustration you see Mrs. Violet Avey of Milan, Michigan, who now owns the quilt. It is in red and white, although the red is somewhat faded from hard use and age. Originally I imagine it was a bright turkey red, and the design is a single Irish chain.
This quilt, which is crib size, was made by Mrs. Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, for Mrs. Mary Grimsley, who was a lifelong resident of that city and was a daughter of Richard Burch, a member of one of the pioneer families of Springfield. She was also the great niece of Jesse B. Thomas, one of the first two United States senators from Illinois. The last meal of which Mrs. Lincoln partook before leaving for Washington in 1860 was prepared by Mrs. Grimsley. Mrs. Grimsley gave the quilt to Mrs. Avery who is generous enough to exhibit it so that those who are interested in historical pieces may see it. The quilt is very ragged but there is still evidence of fine workmanship and careful cutting and planning.
In the Saturday’s morning mail I found a note from Mrs. Katherine Crowley, 1419 Vermont Avenue, saying that she plans to enter a quilt made in 1791. Aren’t you anxious to see what pattern this is?
Then, Mrs. J. G. Heilemann, 112 Division St., Coldwater, Michigan has a quilt 106 years old which has never been on display and she is going to bring it to our Contest. Doesn’t that sound interesting?
You may bring your quilts any time now to the main office of The Detroit News, Lafayette and Second Blvd., and in exchange you will be given a claim check. Please remember to write your name, address and whatever remarks you wish to make about the quilt on a piece of cloth or heavy paper and sew it to the back of the quilt. This will be for your own protection and do away with confusion after the contest.
Have you sent in your entry slip yet? If not try to do so as quickly as possible. Remember, if your quilt is new it must be from a News pattern and it must be either a completed quilt or just a top. If it is an antique it must be at least 50 years old.
WELL, I am on the last lap of my Trip, and, if the fingers hold out, it will be with all of the others at the contest in November. I hardly expect to be there myself (and I am very disappointed), but glad there is to be an extension of crime for those not quite ready. I have to make a trip to Detroit in October, so will not be in the city in November too. But here’s hoping you all have a lovely time, and I know I shall be thinking of you all at that time.
Fall is here again, and how beautiful all the leaves are! Sunsets, too, seem so much more gorgeous this time of the year.
MRS. ALBERT BOWEN,
Lake George, Michigan.
Everyone is going to be so disappointed not to have you at the contest, Mrs. Bowen. After reading your letters they must feel well acquainted with you.
I am glad that you are planning on entering a quilt, however, and I do hope that your fingers hold out until you get it finished. There is plenty of time, however, but don’t let it go until the last minute for it will be so much harder to finish it if you do. Don’t forget to write again.
I HAVE finished my Double Wedding Ring quilt and have another one all ready to sew. I also have started the Dresden Plate, but am sorry it will not be finished for the contest. After I finished my quilt I washed it and the colors all came out lovely, not one little piece faded, so I am going to enter it in the contest.
I enjoy the Corner very much. Am I a member?
MRS. IDA GOHL,
5343 Army, Detroit, Mich.
…(clipping cut off)
$500 in Prizes at Quilt Contest
This is to remind you of that Quilt Contest that is to be held in November and to urge you to send in your application for entry as quickly as possible. If you have made a quilt from a Detroit News pattern, whether you belong to the Quilt Club or not you are welcome to enter a quilt. This may be a completed quilt or a top from a Detroit News pattern and if you have an antique quilt, 50 years or more old, you may also enter this. There is no limit to the number of quilts you may enter.
The prizes are as follows:
First Grand Prize….$100.00
Second Grand Prize.. 50.00
Third Grand Prize….25.00
There will be three prizes for appliqued quilts as follows (these must be completed quilts):
1st ………..$50.00
2nd………….25.00
3rd………10.000
And there will also be three prizes for tops only, in appliqued design, as follows: 1st …….$35.00
2nd……..20.00
3rd……10.000
For quilt tops which are of piecework designs there are to be three prizes:
1st…………$35.00
2nd………..20.00 3rd……………10.00
And for the children’s and young girls’ quilts there will be two prizes as follows
1st………………$15
2nd………………10.00
There will be ribbon awards for the antique quilts and coverlets.
Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.
6268.2.3; 6268.2.8
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