Linen bedsheet. Plain ivory color. Two 95 inch pieces seamed along selvedges at mid-width, hemmed .5'. 'Wheatland 2_14_'69' written in faded black ink to right of seam, at top.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
Pair of linen pillow shams. Rectangular cloth with scalloped edges. Double border in white thread with peony-like flowers and grape vines. Solid band between two rows. Inside row has more elaborate flowers and wheat stalks. 'HLJ' embroidered in interlock
Baskets pattern quilt of cotton. Thirty full-size blocks set on point have baskets made of pieced small scale pink print with tiny red squares and white lines that alternate with solid blocks of another small scale pink print with tiny foliate motifs. Baskets are all hand pieced except for the arched basket handles which are appliqued. Basket made of pink on white ground, using triangles for the body, trapezoid for the foot and arch for the handle. Basket handles vary as to which pink print was used. Applied binding of white cotton is machine sewn.
Hand quilted designs in white thread are parallel lines aligned in different directions. An exception is the arched quilting that echoes the arc of the basket handle with multiple lines.
White cotton back using two panels.
Provenance
Quilt was owned by donor's great aunt (unknown). Donor was president of The Dodge Cork Co. at 301 E. Liberty St.
Light damage causing strong fading of pink print, esp. bordering three of the sides. Multiple stains and areas of acid burn on front and even more stains and back. Some seams are failing and opening.
Floral applique block quilt of cotton. Sixteen 15" floral applique blocks of flowers on white ground. Flowers have blooms of various greens & browns appliqued together to create two different designs that alternate block by block. Flowers branch out in curves with leaves of black & green print and intricate flower buds.
Sashing, 2.5" wide, separates blocks with white strips edged with thin green strips. Inner border of 1-inch wide brown strip encloses blocks. In large outer border of white with mitered corners are graceful grapevines of grape clusters, leaves of the same green & black print as leaves in centerfield,and tendrils of chain stitch embroidery. Wide red binding w/ mitered corners wraps to back and is hand stitched. White cotton back of four panels. Thin cotton batting.
Hand-quilted with a grid in centerfield except for bold cable that is superimposed on sashing and brown inner border. Outer border has slanting parallel lines. One distinctive round flower 2.5" in diameter with 10 petals is found in outer border near one corner, near edge.
Card originally sewn on quilt (handwritten in ink): "Quilt made by Rebecca Rynard of Line Lexington Penna. 90 yrs ago - it has taken many 1st prizes at the State Fairs in both Montgomery Co & Bucks Co - Penna." Below is "Property of M.D.S. Elwell 524 Cedar Lane Swarthmore(?)"
Provenance
Wheatland record states history of ownership is unknown between maker and donor. Research shows most Rynards lived in Cumberland Co.
Soil and multiple scattered stains overall, esp. on back. Significant holes on front. Wide binding is worn at edge and fraying. Many seams deteriorating and separated.
Crazy quilt made of velvet, silk, ribbon and floss. Eight-inch wide dark green lustrous border has mitered corners and embroidered morning glory vines on three sides (lavender, green, yellow). Center has a wide variety of crazy patches of silk, satin, velvet, ribbon, solids and prints.
Some patches are painted and some have embroidered motifs. Embroidered decoration includes snowflakes, vines, zig-zags, etc. Unusual that most decorative embroidery stitches run alongside seams and not on top. Quilt is decorated and secured with bows of dark purple ribbon ties. Many patches have been "repaired" with an overlay of fabric due to deterioraton.
Some fabrics shredding, one nearly bare showing white foundation fabric underneath. Multiple repairs to deteriorated patches by applying an overlay of additional fabric. Some staining on back.
Object ID
W.1961.015.001
Notes
Reportedly made by donor's grandmother or great-grandmother from swatches of ladies' gowns made to be worn at James Buchanan's 1857 inaugural ball. Card in file states: Donor's "grandmother or great grandmother was on her honeymoon at that time and a friend, the dressmaker who made many of the ball gowns, gave her the scraps of material for a quilt as a memory of the occasion coupled with her honeymoon." At the end of note are two names, Mrs. Michael D. Smyser (Magdalene) and Mrs. Howard Overmiller (Helen), of Spring Grove in York Co. Relationship is unexplained. Helen Menges Baer Overmiller lived 1898-1975. Magdalene Smyser was much older, 1847-1924.
Cotton quilt. On white ground are 9 large blocks delineated by sashing, a yellow print with a vine of red berries. Within each block is a geometric design made of overlapping strips of a red check print arranged like an angular lovers knot.
Back is white cotton with three inked stencils / prints on cloth in blue. First print has flowers with a bird and '30/2' ; the second print has scrollwork around a shield with 'Superior Longcloth' ; the third print has an ormate design around "CLYDEWORKS. BLEACH & FINISH / S.H. GREENE / PROVIDENCE R.I."
Quilt, Bars w/ Nine Patch Variation. Centerfield has 7 bars 10.5-11.5" wide; 4 have 9 Patch design, on point, and 3 have unpieced chintz. Chintz has aqua background with baskets of yellow and red, and flowers & leaves of teal, white, red, and yellow. Outer border, 10.5" wide, is royal blue and white with rows of blue bells and ferns.
Hand quilted with white thread using a grid pattern. Bound by joining back and front together at edge with running stitch. White coarse cotton back is 3 panels.
All cotton quilt, on point blocks have pieced 8-point star blocks that alternate with blocks of a woven pattern blue with a grid of white lines. Stars are small scale floral print of pink with tiny white flowers. White ground is a very loose weave composed of multiple pieced panels. White outside border is 11" wide on one end and 7.5" wide on the other three.
Hand-quilted with white thread in a small scale grid aligned with blocks.
Back is a loose weave arranged with wide strips of white alternating with strips of a large, bold red print of branches and large flowers. Six white strips are 8.5 - 9" wide; 5 printed strips and 7.5" wide. Back is brought forward to front to created binding. Thin battiing.
Inscription: On front quilt corner is "HM6? handwritten in ink.
Overall fading and deterioration, especially in pink floral print which is consistently riddled with small holes where white flowers have deteriorated. Some small holes in blue fabric, 1/8"-1/4" big with fraying. General soil, scattered stains and acid burn, especially at fold lines and borders, as well as sections of back..
Quilt of cotton has 9-Patch pattern blocks on point. Sashing separates the 9-patch blocks. All white except the 5 patches of printed cottons in each 9-patch block. Print colors include red, brown, tan, pink, white, yellow and blue. Narrow outer border is 3.5" wide. Cotton batting. Very narrow binding is the white back rolled around to front and hand stitched.
Hand quilted in white thread. Undulating feather throughout border, cable in all sashing and unusual, large, 4-leaf motif in 9-patch block has oval leaves extending from center print into the 4 corner prints.
Side-by-side Inscriptions in one corner are "JO4" (?) handwritten in ink and "K214" stamped. Likely owners' marks.
Overall wear and fading. Deterioration to many of the cotton prints, with small holes, large holes and strong losses. Blood stain with hole is 3/4" in size. Scattered dark stains on top and especially on back that have appearance of foxing. Several sections along quilt edge - front and back - have dye transfer from a printed fabric caused by moisture.
