1943

Illinois State Museum

Chicago, Illinois, United States

From the correspondence files of Bertha Stenge. This file contains correspondence pertaining to an exhibition of Bertha Stenge's quilts that took place at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1943.

Bertha Stenge; Art Institute of Chicago; quilt exhibitions

Page 1
The Art Institute of Chicago
Potter, Palmer, President; Charles H. Worcester, Honorary President; Walter R. Smith, Treasurer; Robert Allerton, Vice-President; Percy B. Eckhart, Vice-President; Chauncey McCormick, Vice-President; Russell Tyson, Vice-President; Daniel Catton Rich, Director of Fine Arts; Charles H. Burkholder, Director of Finance and Operation; Charles Fabens Kelley, Assistant Director
Telephone Central 7080

March 16, 1943
My dear Mrs. Stenge,
I am writing to ask if you will come in at your convenience to discuss the details of the proposed exhibition of Mrs. Stenge's quilts.
Thanking you, I am
Sincerely yours, Mildred Davison
Textile Division
Decorative Arts Department
Mr. Bernhard Stenge
2508 N. Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois

Page 2
The Art Institute of Chicago
PASS Mrs. Stenge
with one-package (quilt) Issued by M. Davison
Date 3/20/43

Page 3
The Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1943
Received from Mrs. Bernhard Stenge
2508 N. Bernard St., Chicago
the objects described below offered to The Art Institute of Chicago as a loan subjet to conditions printed on the back of this receipt.
Should any error appear in this receipt kindly bring the matter to the attention of the Director of Fine Arts.
Receipt 7960; C. H. Burkholder, Director of Finance and Operation
Item Number; Loan Number; Description of Objects
Quilts Made by Mrs. Stenge

1. 401.43 Rachel's Wreath
2. 402.43 Iva's Pincusion
3. 403.43 Tiger Lily
4. 404.43 Bible Quilt
5. 405.43 Ruth's Ring
6. 406.43 Victory Quilt
7. 407.43 Quilt Show
8. 408.43 Peace
9. 409.43 Chicago Fair
10. 410.43 Scrap Book
11. 411.43 Palm Leaf
12. 412.43 Saturnia Souvenir
13. 413.43 Star of Constantine
14. 414.43 Gazelle
15. 415.43 Feathered Star
16. 416.43 Lotus
17. 417.43 San Francisco Fair

Page 4, Loan Conditions

Page 5, exhibit list
Hours: daily 9 to 5 o'clock: Sundays 12 noon to 5 o'clock. 12:090143

Exhibitions
Paintings
Twentieth Century French Paintings From the Chester Dale Collection. Galleries 38, 38, and 70. On indefinite loan.

Annual Exhibition By Students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Galleries G51-G61. September 2 through October 3.

Two Chicago Artists: David Bekker and Copeland G. Burg. Gallery 52. August 12 through September 19.

Art in War
Exhibition By the Army Illustrations of Fort Custer, Michigan. Gallery 53. July 8 through October 10.

Decorative Art
Special Loan Exhibition of European 18th-Century Porcelains. Gallery G3.
Exhibition of American Glass. Gallery G10
Exhibition of Quilts by Mrs. Bertha Stenge. Gallery A2 and A3

Oriental Art
Rubbings of Chinese Sculptures from the Florence Ayscough and Harley F. MacNair Collection. Gallery H5.
Nineteenth Century Chinese Paintings. Gallery H9.

Art Interpretation
The Art of Fresco Painting. Gallery 1

Prints and Drawings
Etchings and Drypoints by Henry Matisse. Gallery 13.
Prints by Edouard Manet. Gallery 16. Through September 15.
Drawings and Photographs by George Kepes. Gallery 12.

Page 6
The Art Institute of Chicago
Potter Palmer, President; Daniel Catton Rich, Director of Fine Arts; Charles H. Burkholder, Director of Finance and Operation
Director of Decorative Arts; Department of Industrial Arts
Meyric R. Rogers, Curator
October 5, 1943
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
Your quilts and everything pertaining will be returned to you the latter part of this week, either by express or by truck. I trust this meets with your approval.

It goes without saying what a fine exhibition these quilts have made this summer and you would have been pleased to hear the many (for they wer many!) comments on your originality and workmanship. It has been a pleasure to have them on exhibition in our galleries.
Thanking you very much, I am,
Sincerely yours, Mildred Davison
In Charge of Textiles
Mrs. Bernard Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois

Page 7
The Art Institute of Chicago
Potter, Palmer, President; Charles H. Worcester, Honorary President; Walter R. Smith, Treasurer; Robert Allerton, Vice-President; Percy B. Eckhart, Vice-President; Chauncey McCormick, Vice-President; Russell Tyson, Vice-President; Daniel Catton Rich, Director of Fine Arts; Charles H. Burkholder, Director of Finance and Operation; Charles Fabens Kelley, Assistant Director
Telephone Central 7080
October 6, 1943
My dear Mrs. Stenge,
I have just received word from our shipping department that the truck will be in your neighborhood Friday and will deliver the quilts at that time. Am very sorry I cannot say more definitely as to the hour but the man power and gas rationing situations make that impossible.

Thank you again for the loan of your beautiful quilts which made one of the most popular exhibitions the Decorative Arts Department has ever shown.
Sincerely yours, Mildred Davison
In Charge of Textiles
Mrs. Bernard Stenge
2508 N. Bernard Ave.
Chicago, Illinois.

Page 8 front
Just A Reminder
Page 9 back
The collection of my quilts
Will remain on exhibitions
At the Chicago Art Institute
South Michigan and Adams
Until October, 1943.
The quilts are being shown
In the Textile Galleries.
I sincerely hope you visit
To our Art Institute
Will be a pleasant one.
Cordially yours,
Bertha Stenge
Admission Free on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.