Large group of students posed in front of Elizabethtown High School. Identified are top row, left to right: George Fry, Harry Sheetz, Ambrose Plummer, Bertram Ream, Harold Engle, Roy Heim, Benjamin Groff, Milton Heistand, Walter Detra, Harry Lawry, Clyde Coble, Herman Enterline, Vyrle Binkley, James McLaughlin. Second Row: Gertrude Seldomridge, Anna Ruth Eslelman, Kathryn Cassell, Lydia Withers, Elizabeth Heisey, Carrie Schultz, Ruth Westafer, Anna Olweiler, Ethel Kersey, Miriam Bard, Helen Plummer, Margaret Drohan, Ruth Meyers. Third row: Ira Risser, Wilber Heisey, Elmer Eslelman, ?, Frank Breneman, Chester Eckinger, Paul Shauk, Walter Shauk, Claude Breneman, ?, Elizabeth Roeting, Magdaline Sweigart, Marion Reese, Bertha Belser, Anna Stern, Anna Keller, Fanny Heisey, Grace Heisey, Ruth Gise, Anna Ebersole, Ada Fridy, Mabel Charleston, Esther Shearer, Margaret Inners, ?, Mary Belser, Verna Barto, Anna Forman, E. U. Aiemiller, teacher, Miss Carter and Miss Eckman. Seated: Paul Landis, Roy Frey, Charles Abele, ?, Heister Madeira, Robert Hafley, Sheldon Madiera, Jabob Kaylor, Dorothhy Buch, Virginia Martin, Verna Hershey, Daisey Donecker, Salome Withers, Pauline ?, Helen Dennison, Esther Campbell, Reba Ream, Anna Wagner, Myrtle Moyer, Anna Epler, Esther Young, Martha Oberholtzer, Agnes Fackler, Elizabeth Fackler. Front row: Roy Frey, John Meckley, Robert Fisher, Lee Barnes, ?, ? Baker, Howard Landvater
Crazy quilt, atypical, of brilliantly colored printed silks, made by Anna Little Wagner of Schwenksville. The polychrome fabrics are predominantly green, but also strong reds and blues. Designs are mostly stylized and naturalistic floral motifs, with some stylized birds. Several prints are identical except for color variations, suggesting the maker had access to factory samples or remnants. Several prints have what appears to be an Egyptian theme, indicating a tie to the Egyptian Revival period of the 1920s.
Patch seams are decorated with red cross-stitched embroidery. Binding is a golden brown silk. Backing is a solid maroon silk.
Very good condition and stable overall, with perhaps half a dozen patches having minor fabric separation/splitting. At least two small holes of about 1/4" diameter. Some tide lines visible in three or four areas indicating liquid spills.
Provenance
Passed from maker to niece (brother William Little's daughter, Anna Marion Little Goode) to son Clarence Randolph. Late in her life, maker lived for a year or more with niece Anna Marion Little Goode and husband Clarence E. Goode, M.D. when they resided in Reading. Perhaps the quilt was passed to niece at that time. Donor recalls seeing maker's quilting frame set up in their home where she made traditional cotton quilts. Donor believes Littles and Gilberts were Mennonites, although not very active in church.
Note: Donor Clarence J. Randolph was born a Goode, but didn't like his name so changed it to Randolph.
