In recent conversations about the blog, it was suggested that it might be helpful to be aware of the many reasons why the quilts were created. It isn’t as straightforward as you might have thought. We need to look at the clues found in “album” quilts, a quilt containing squares of appliqued designs or images. The reason for the quilt is sometimes included in the imagery of the quilt, such as an autograph book, letting you know this was created to collect autographs. In the 1820s autograph books were found in homes, where the guests could sign their name along with inspirational messages. The fad was transferred to quilts using stitching first, then in the thirties as indelible ink was more commonly available, it made the inscribed fad even easier for quilts. (Inscribed is a safe...
Textiles and the Triplett Sisters
Last blog, I mentioned there were variations on the Mary Ann O’laughlen style Fountain Block. However, that is not to say that these variations were temperance blocks, perhaps simply offering a variety of options with a wider appeal. (Kay and I had decided to research each block of the BAQ’s in the collection to see what information could be gleaned.) One variation is the flower in place of the fountain as found in the Alice A Ryder quilt c. 1847. Apparently, it was a good year for the fountain block with that date associated with the lone Temperance Block, Oram BAQ, Herget BAQ all having an 1847 date associated with it. (Here is the link to see these quilts.) Two of the BAQ’s with these blocks don’t have a specific date, and the Pettecord quilt has...
Debby Cooney a long time Baltimore Album Quilt researcher has correlated the Fountain block (follow link to see all the quilts) with the Temperance movement. It seems to have such a clear connection, but it made me wonder if it could be traced to a specific Temperance Society in Baltimore and/or members of a specific society. I began researching many of the different temperance societies and my working theory led me to the Washington Temperance Society which was created by 6 men who were artisans/laborers including a tailor who would become President at the Chase Tavern at 22 N Liberty Street in 1840. Membership topped 700 by the end of the year, and it had 5,000 members by 1842. The Washington Temperance Society used the phrases “fountain of health, fountain of life” in their promotional materials. Additionally, the...
Kay and I have been researching and studying Baltimore Album Quilts (BAQ) for quite some time. (Kay longer than I.) There have been many good researchers who were also interested in this topic and provided insights into the BAQ’s. So, we hesitated to wade into this topic, beyond the basic information in our Hidden Treasures book. However, we have been continuing our research and would like to share some of the insights we’ve uncovered. I’ve set up a Pinterest page to track these quilts available at this link. It is a work in progress, so if you want to add a quilt to the page or more information about the specific quilt, please email me at Lori@quiltandtextilecollections.com. Old Quilts” by William Rush Dunton was my first exposure to the Jacksonian Heart, through the Jackson Victory Commemorative...
The Wedding Album Quilt Exhibition opening at the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival (KCRQF) is today June 15, 2023. The 2020 Triplett Sisters Block of the Month pattern was based on the c. 1860 original antique quilt from the Poos Collection and will be on display. This quilt was the cover quilt on the first book about the collection, Red & Green Quilts from the Poos Collection. Also in the exhibit will be six other quilts interpreting or reproducing the original from quilt artists: Kathy Delaney, Darla Hanks, Lin McQuiston, Nancy Paris, Lori Lee Triplett, and Christine Turner. The quilt artists used a variety of applique techniques as well as extra flourishes of hand painting, and embroidery. Additionally, some of the artists altered the colors, the pattern, and the meaning behind the original quilt to make...