June 1971

Sapulpa, Oklahoma, United States

A series of articles about Bertha Stenge.

The Superb Mrs. Stenge
by Cuesta Benberry
The vastly improved and widespread communications media of our time has been a boon for persons interested in quilts. Before our century, even the most skilled quiltmaker remained practically anonymous, little known outside her immediate family and circle of friends. Not so today. We can expect that in the year 2000, seeing the close of the 1900's full history and knowledge of many of our expert quilt-makers will be available. And celebrity, not anonymity, will be their fate.
One of the greatest of the 20th century quilt makers and quilt designers was the late Mrs. Bertha Stenge of Chicago, Illinois. Hers was a talent that was creative, innovative, and above all, artistic. Her work was marked by consummate skill, both as a designer and as a quilt-maker.
We first learn of Mrs. Bertha Stenge in the national media in the late 1930's. Mrs. Stenge had made quilts for some years prior to this. However, as part of our report deals with how well the communications media of our time has publicized outstanding quilt-makers, we will begin with her first national exposure.
In the 193's - '40's, the Ladies Home Journal Magazine was perhaps, the leading women's magazine in America. In 1938, on its pages appeared an original quilt pattern of Mrs. Stenge. It was #1503 Bible Quilt. The following year, in 1939, Mrs. Stenge won the Grand Prize at the World's Fair (N.Y.). Her quilt was "Palm Leaf-Hosannah", a traditional pieced pattern. The quilting design was of her own devising, and marked her first attempt at trapunto quilting, which later became a trademark of hers.
In 1940, there again appeared three original quilt patterns of Mrs. Bertha Stenge in Ladies Home Journal. They were #1600 "Iva's Pincushion", #1601 "Reba's Ring" and #1602 "Rachel's Wreath".
In 1942, Mrs. Stenge was awarded the Grand Prize in the National Needlework Contest of Woman's Day Magazine. Her entry was an original applique quilt "Victory". A little know fact is the Mrs. Stenge also won a third place in the contest for another quilt "White Magic". She was only surpassed by two of the most renowned quilters of that day - Rose Kretsinger and Pine Eisefeller. Full coverage of these events was givn in various issues of Woman's Day Magazine in 1943.
The Art Institute of Chicago, in the summer of that same year - 1943 honored Mrs. Bertha Stenge with a One Woman Show. Seventeen of her beautiful quilts were hung in the Art Institute's galleries - displayed as the art objects they were. Of the quilts displayed Mrs. Stenge said her favorite was "Iva's Pincushion". In addition to local coverage, the national news magazine "Newsweek" reported this outstanding event.
Woman's Day Magazine in August 1945 featured yet another of the original designs of Mrs. Bertha Stenge, the "Tiger Lily". In 1947, two of Mrs. Stenge's quilts appeared in the Ladies Home Journal - "Lotus" and "Eight Point Snowflake". While "Lotus", we know, is a traditional quilt pattern, for this quilt Mrs. Stenge designed an original border and a lovely quilting design. A full page picture of "Lotus" appeared the next years in the book "American Quilts" by Elizabeth Wels Robertson.
As her formidable talents grew, Mrs. Stenge's fame spread. Recognition came to her from noted authorities, such as the late Florence Peto and Dorothy Roe. In her 1949 book "American Quilts and Coverlets" Mrs. Peto devotes a portion of her text to Mrs. Stenge's work, and shows a full plate of her delightful and unique quilt - "The Quilt Show".
The Stearns and Foster Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio held a nation-wide quilt contest in 1949. All quilts entered had to be previous winners in state fairs. Mrs. Stenge's quilts "American Holiday" and "Bible Quilt" were both given Special Awards. These two quilts were pictured in the "Mountain Mist Blue Book of Prize Quilts - State Fair Prize Winners" published the following year in 1950.
Honors were heaped on Mrs. Stenge, as newspapers and periodicals vied to enhance their publications with pictures of Mrs. Stenge's super quilts. In 1953-54 McCall's Needlework showed a full color picture of "The Quilting Party". This quilt, whose pattern was adapted from a very old painting, had won a Special Award in the 1950 Women's International Exposition (N.Y.) for Mrs. Stenge. In 1953, McCall's Needlework also shows Mrs. Stenge performing as a judge in the National Grange Quilt Contest. At this time, it was mentioned that Mrs. Stenge had won over 80 ribbons for her own quilts.
In 1957 Mrs. Stenge entered the Eastern States Expostion's Pillow and Chair Pad Contest. She won the first place prized for her applique design of "The Holy Family". Before the award could be publicized, Mrs. Stenge died.
Recently, the Chicago Tribune had a full page color picture of Mrs. Stenge's "Bible Quilt", and a half page illustrated article telling of Mrs. Stenge's quilts, which were going on sale to the public for the first time.
Past quilt historians, investigating 18th and 19th century quilts, more or less, had to content themselves with researching the quilt patterns and their history. But of the actual quilt-makers, information was meager and often non-existent. Today's quilt historians, thanks to modern improved communications, will be able to "name names", and give specific credit where due. And much credit is certainly due to the talented late Mrs. Bertha Stenge, superb quilt maker and designer supreme.