1943

Illinois State Museum

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

From the correspondence files of Bertha Stenge. This file contains letters from Charlotte Johnson and other representatives from the Ladies Home Journal.

Bertha Stenge; Ladies Home Journal; Charlotte Johnson; The Bible Quilt; Iva's Pincushion; Miss Jervis
Page 1, letter 1
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
March 20, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I was very much interested in your letter and glad that your wrote me.
I personally, would love to see that quilt. You are right. There is no way in which Ladies' Home Journal could use this, since we have already shown the illustrations of the Bible quilts once, and already have the pattern made up. I am sure your reproduction is much more attractive than our original which was made in mercerized cotton. If you would like to send the quilt to me just to see, I shall be glad to pay the postage on it!
At any time, if you have original designs for quilts, just send on the quilts themselves. I do not need to see sketches or drawings of them if you are willing to show us the quilts you have made.
Yours sincerely
Charlote Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
CJ: MCK
Page 2, letter 2
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
March 28, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I am writing to tell you that the quilts arrived. I should like to keep them for a little while to show Mrs. Gould and Mrs. Cookman. I think that they are beautifully done.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Fashion Department
CJ:JB
Page 3, letter 3
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
April 3, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
We feel very much indebted to you for the pleasure of seeing your lovely quilts. I showed them to Mrs. Gould and Mrs. Cookman - both. Mrs. Gould particularly admired "Iva's pincushion". Is it "on the market" and if you'd consider selling it, for how much?
I thought that the Bible Quilt was sweet. You worked out the colors beautifully.
Are your quilt designs original, or copied from old-time designs? I like "Iva's pincushion," Betsy's ring", and the project in four squares.
If we decided to reproduce these three designs, I would not want the quilts themselves, but borrow then long enough to have the designs reproduced. And I'd want from you any directions that would be necessary.
Have you ever sold any of your quilts on this basis, and at what price?
I have returned the quilts Express prepaid, insured for $1500, to you today. I am leaving for my vacation today and I prefer to have you keep them, even though I might want them later.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
CJ:JB
Page 4, letter 4
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
May 8, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
When I returned from my vacation, I found your letter awaiting me. You still haven't told me how much you want to get, for the quilt designs!
I think that you had better go ahead with your plans to give "Iva's Pincushion" to a museum, if that is what you have planned to do with it. Mrs. Gould was interested in the price of this quilt, but unless she could buy it for a reasonable price I do not believe that she would consider its purchase.
As I mentioned in my previous letter, I would be intertested only in reproducing the three designs, not in purchasing the quilts. We would probably show the three designs in two columns in the Journal, and $100 is the top I am alotted for the Make-It-Yourself features in the back of the book.
Perhaps we could make an arrangement whereby we would give you a line on the page in the Journal, saying "Designed by Bertha Stenge". What would you think of this arrangement?
It was so nice to get your letter. I think that your idea of reproducing one of the old-time issues of the Journal, on an anniversary is good!
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
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Page 5, letter 5
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
July 12, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I suppose that you wonder about your quilts. They have been illustrated, and beautifully, for the magazine itself. I shall send you a proof of the page as soon as I have one.
And I now have the quilts in my office, and must get to work to have the designs taken off in detail for the patterns. When that is finished I shall return them to you. I can assure you that they are not soiled, and look almost as new as when I unpacked them.
No, I do not wish to name "Iva's Wreath" with my own name. I cannot figure out why this quilt was called a project in four squares!
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
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Page 6, letter 6
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
August 29, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I expected to get your quilts back to you before this, but a number of perfectly legitimate reasons have prevented my doing this.
First of all, we had the quilt page scheduled for the October Journal, but due to a "tight book", it didn't get in that issue -- much to my disappointment. I am enclosing a pasted-up proof of this page, so that you can see that it does exist! It is so lovely in two color that I am loathe to sacrifice it to black-and-white, so it has not yet been scheduled. Therefore I have not actually had to make up the patterns.
Then I have been so rushed this summer, with Mrs. Cushman abroad and everything devolved on me, that I have not gotten around to working out the designs with an artist, on pencil and paper. They are safe in our vaults -- which are dry and fire-proof.
I certainly would like for you to win a prize on this quilt, but I really would prefer not showing this quilt until it appears in the Journal. This is the stipulation we make with all our needlework contributors -- that the designs we buy (even if we do not buy the actual articles) should not appear anywhere until they come out in the Journal.
I hope you will understand this somewhat involved explanation. I hope to get right at the quilt working now that Mrs. Cushman is here again and I have a breathing spell.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
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Page 7, letter 7
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
December 20, 1939
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
Thank you very much for your Christmas card.
To tell the truth, I felt as if coals of fire were being heaped on my head, because I have had such a guilty conscience about your quilts. As you have noticed, the page has not het been scheduled, although we still plan to run it, and I have not been pressed to do my drawings of the designs. But I had it in mind to get the quilts to you before Christmas, and yesterday the artist brought in the last of the drawings. So your quilts will be shipped to you, intact, in a few days. I think that I shall wait now until the day after Christmas to avoid the "Christmas rush." But get them you will!
As soon as the page is scheduled I shall be glad to write you and let you know.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
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Page 8, letter 8
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
February 29, 1940
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I am holding your letter for Miss Johnson. She has had a very busy and rather disastrous winter, which accounts for the long time we have held your beautiful quilts, here in the office.
Just at this time this winter that Miss Johnson was at her busiest here in the office, she had to drop everything and go to California on a business trip to work on the fashion pages for the May and June Journals. The day before she was schedulced to return from Hollywood, she and Mrs. Cushman were in an automobile accident and while she did not suffer any serious injuries, the shock was great and the doctor insisted that she take a much needed rest before plunging back into the work that had been piling up during her absence. She wrote to me and asked that I would please get in touch with you and explain the matter, as she felt very badly about it. She said for me to return the quilts and to say that she hoped that if it was necessary later on to see them again she would like to get them back, to check directions before offering them in the Journal She hopes to schedule the material in the early Fall issue.
I have sent the quilts off to you today, by Shipping, and hope they reach you without further delay. I know that Miss Johnson will write to your herself as soon as she comes back to the office. I do hope that the delay has not been too serious an inconvenience.
Sincerely yours,
Eleanor Tucker
Secretary to Miss Johnson
Page 9, letter 9
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
July 16, 1940
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
How nice to hear from you again.
Don't think that we have "shelved" the quilts. The page is simply awaiting an issue when we shall have a three-color position at the back of the book. I hope that the space will turn up very soon.
While I sympathize with your desire to display your quilt at the World's Fair, rule #12 really does sseem to preclude our permission, for it specifically mentions a store. You quote "this store", and I do not know what store it is, buy any store with an Art Needlework Department works with other publications, and should they decide to use the prize-winner for special display, they would probably wish to use it for special promotion. After all, we did buy the designs. It is hard luck that I have not been able to get them into the Journal, before this, but I do not like to have them appear anywhere else until their appearance in the Journal
I hope that you will not be disappointed.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 10, letter 10
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
August 26, 1940
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
Thank you for sending me the newspaper clipping. It was interesting.
You will be pleased (I hope) to learn that your quilt page will appear in the November Journal which comes out October 9th. I'll send you a tear sheet soon.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 11, letter 11
Marguerite Eyssen
Hedgehog Road
P.O. Box 356
Bradford, Penna
August 26, 1940
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I have been ill, which accounts for your not hearing from me before this in response to your last letter. Oddly enough, one sentence in the account you sent me, covers the theme of a story on which I had been working: "Tales of tears in dormitories because of young ideas on the part of parents." I don't know whether I'll get away with it or not.
I should like to talk to the woman about whom you wrote me. I don't think she realizes how much she has on the credit side, or how little the debit side matters, comparatively. Three children whom she has educated, an absorbing interest in creative work, which should increase through the years, success at it, and above all, her own sense of accomplishment and self-respect - it adds up to a pretty nice total, doesn't it? On the other side, she has the faithlessness of a husband, but the day and age when Love was All to a real woman, is certainly past. Love to capable women is just about as much today as it is to men - a side issue! Very nice, if you are fortunate, but by no means fatal, if you're not! There's too much else! The woman in question seems to me to be in danger of magnifying the importance of her husband to her general scheme anymore, and in danger, too, of miminizing the joy in her own balance and possibilities, past and to come!
Recovered, I find myself back in my work and with much to do before I'll be even with the game again. I think there is a story about a man who wakes up to the fact that he doesn't amount to a damn, one way or the other, to his wife anymore, and I want to try that some day. I was interested to read the other day that a movie poll said people weren't taking to romance and love stories anymore - rather to current social themes and problems. This all fits in, doesn't it, with what I said about Love being all right in its place, but why go off the deep end about it with all there is else in the world to a woman of enough balance and acument to do what that woman has done!
I'll hope to speak to you again in the Post. In the meantime, I'll be looking for you in the Ladies' Home Journal.
Sincerely,
Margurite Eyssen
Page 12, letter 12
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
September 6, 1940.
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
I have been working on the directions for the quilt pattern for the last 24 hours! It has been so long since I have seen them -- over a year -- that I felt a little uncertain as the colors, etc. I have copious notes and a detailed drawing of the quilt, but not colors.
I wondered whether you would be so kind as to read over these directions and mark anything that is not as the way you workd your quilt. And please return Air Mail to me.
I do want the directions to be fool-proof. The detailed drawings are beautiful.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 13, letter 13
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
September 10, 1940.
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge,
Thank you for the letter and returning the "copy" to me.
I am enclosing the page from the November Journal.
I am doing the patterns in both patchwor and applique because I think that women will want to do both. Most women will probably do the applique because it is easier. Few would have your infinite patience and be an "artist", that you are! But there will be women who will want to make a patchwork quilt.
I am very grateful for your suggestions. Sorry to have to send for the quilts again, but I though I'd better have them all. I'll return them to you, insured, safely. I don't want you to have to apy for any postage!
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 14, letter 14
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
September 19, 1940.
Dear Mrs. Stenge:
As she no doubt told you she would, Miss Johnson left yesterday for two weeks' vacation.
She asked me to send you a proof of each of the quilt patterns as they came through, so I am enclosing the first. From the drawings and diagrams she has made, the directions seem to read all right -- though we know nothing of quilting! From your letter of September 12th, it almost sounded as though she had already sent you a proof, so perhaps this is a duplicate, but I wanted to be sure you saw it.
We have just one question -- at the beginning of the second paragraph it says: "The quilt design includes 4 applique wreaths...". We are wondering if perhaps it wouldn't be clearer to the novice, and as long as each portion of the design is being enumerated in the directions, despite the very clear diagrams, if that read 5" applique wreaths? There is one in each of the four squares, and one in the center in the square formed by those four. Perhaps it doesn't matter, but I thought it worth bringing up.
Then it doesn't mention the long trapunto motifs that surround the wreath designs and separate them. Or say how many there should be. Do you think that should be added or is it clear enough without it? I am loathe to change by an iota any of Miss Johnson's careful work, but it would be a shame to leave out anything important when it is otherwise so complete.
Would you be so kind as to let me know -- by return mail, if possible -- if you think these changes should be made, and if you just return the proof with them marked in, I should be very grateful.
May I add my compliments to the many you must have received as you finished each quilt. They are quite the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and I hate to see
Page 15, letter 14, page 2
them leave the office. I shall return them to you however, just as soon as the last diagram has been set in type and corrected.
Thank you for going over the proofs, and if you will, for returning them to us as soon as possible.
Very sincerely yours,
Cynthia Waters
Secretary of Miss Johnson
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Page 16, letter 15
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
October 29, 1940.
Dear Mrs. Stenge,
Here am I after the quilts again!
I have been thinking what a shame it is that a woman cannot see really what the quilts are like with only the patterns and the page in the Journal. Neither of these illustrations do justice to the beauty of your quilts, and so I am going to have them photographed and use the photo reproductions inside each pattern.
By the way I don't believe anyone here was thoughtful enough to send you copies of the patterns. Here they are.
I saw one of your quilts in Macy's, did I not? I believe that I can recognize your work by now.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 17, letter 16
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
November 6, 1940.
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Stenge,
Thank you for sending on the quilts so promptly and for the photograph.
I have some very lovely photographs taken of the quilts and I am talking things over with the photo-lithographer, to see just what would be the best way to reproduce them. Until I am "safe", I am keeping the quilts.
I do want to tell you now, Mrs. Stenge, how nice it has been working with you and how very happy I am that we became acquainted. If you ever have an opportunity to come to Philadelphia, I hope that you will put the Curtis Building on your itinerary.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
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Page 18, letter 17
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
May 28, 1941
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Miss Stenge:
Indeed I do remember you very well. Naturally!
I hope that sometime we can again show some of your quilts in the Journal. The schedule plans have been settled for quite a few months, and I do not believe that we can show quilts again in the Journal for a while.
Without looking up the figures on the sale of your quilt patterns, I do know that these have had a steady but not phenomenal sale. I did not expect them to "sell like hotcakes" because, of course, they are not easy to make. I am delighted to have them in the Reference Library because I know that they will be good designs for years to come.
I am most interested in your display at the University of California, and would be so glad to have you write me when it is over and tell me about it.
Everything is going well in my world. I feeel as cheerful as any one in these times.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Make-It-Yourself Department
CJ/re
Page 19, envelope
Miss Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Ladies' Home Journal
Independence Square
Philadelphia
May 28; 6:30 PM, 1941
Page 20, letter 18
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
June 20, 1941
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Miss Stenge,
It was very nice to hear from you again, and of course I want to see the "Scrapbook Quilt". I hope that you will send it along. I'll promise to take very good care of it.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Fashion Department
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Page 21, letter 19
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
June 30, 1941
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Miss Stenge:
I was most amused to see your "Scrapbook Quilt". I think that it is very attractive, but I do not believe that it is the kind of quilt that women without imagination could make. It definately requires someone like yourself, with an imagination and artistic sense
Thank you so much for sending this quilt on for us to see.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Fashion Department
CJ;rc
Page 22, letter 20
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
November 5, 1941
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Miss Stenge:
Thank you so much for writing me and letting me know about your quilt "Reba's Ring". I am so pleased that you took a blue ribbon on it.
I am always most interested in hearing about you and your quilt.

Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Fashion Department
CJ;rc
Page 23, letter 21
Ladies' Home Journal
The Curtis Publishing Company
Bruce Gould
Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Editors
Philadelphia
April 2, 1943
Mrs. Bertha Stenge
2508 North Bernard Street
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Miss Stenge,
I am always so very much interested to hear what you are doing, and so it was nice to get your letter. The page from "Woman's Day" was interesting.
I've been waiting to answer your letter because I have no been able to find the name of the girl who designed our "Bible Quilt". I have finally located her last name but cannot remember or find, her first name. And so I think that the "credit" will have to be "Miss Jervis".
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte Johnson
Editorial Offices
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