Now 100 years old, this quilt belonged to the donor’s grandfather John William Huffstutter. John was Born in 1898 in a log cabin in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, USA. Tragically, John’s mother died when he was four years old. John said that he could always remember her voice calling his name as he hid under the porch in one of the many thunderstorms that frequent the area with his dog. John was raised by his grandmother and was treated as the youngest to her other children, growing up with his aunties and uncles rather than brothers and sisters. John began to study engineering at the State University of Iowa before serving in the US Army Engineer Corps in The Great War. He enlisted when he became eligible and served briefly before the Great War ended. He then returned to his engineering studies in Iowa, and shortly after finishing his studies got his first job with Westinghouse in Pittsburgh at age 23. It was when John was leaving for this job that he was given the quilts as a reminder of home from his grandmother Sarah Jane "Sallie" Tindall Coble, and her daughter (John's Aunt) Ottie Maude Coble Bittick. Widowed at age 78, John took to sleeping in his screen porch under one of these quilts. John remembered one winter in Missouri waking in his log cabin to find snow covering him and his quilt. When he died at age 94, the quilt he used was completely worn out and discarded. This remaining quilt was shipped to Australia, where Carol’s (the donor) immediate family had emigrated in 1970. Opening the box that contained the quilt released a wave of comforting smells, emotions, and a flood of childhood memories. Carol distinctly remembers sleeping under these quilts for afternoon naps at her grandparents' house. The quilt is 74 x 80 inches (1880 x 2030mm), matching the size of a modern-day king bed. It is made of various four-inch (100mm) squares. These squares are made of old men woollen suits in dark colours of browns and greys. The quilt is layered with a wool backing fabric and a batting lawyer of unknown material, possibly cotton or wool. The quilt is tied together with red wool yarn and the backing fabric is folded over the edge to be used as a binding. Embroidered across the front of the quilt in purple wool yarn is "John Huffstutter", "13 Oct 1921". A small, printed cloth label "HUFFSTUTTER" is pinned on the reverse of the quilt. The quilt is well-worn but in good condition considering its age. The care instructions passed down by word of mouth with the quilt were to "never wash, only air".Front embroidered. Purple handstitching: "John Huffstutter / 13 Oct 1921" Reverse. Printed cloth label: "HUFFSTUTTER"ozark, missouri, usa, textile history, quilt heritage

non-fictionA directory of patchwork treasuresquilts, manning jenny

The Wangaratta Historical Society Inc. (WHS) was established in 1959 and moved into its present home in the 1970s. Wangaratta in North East Victoria has a population of over 27 thousand people and is situated at the junction of the King and the Ovens Rivers. Agriculture has always been a big part of its history as well as education, health and manufacturing. The museum was originally a fire station built 1895 and included living quarters for its staff. The building is owned by the Rural City of Wangaratta who are great supporters of the WHS The museum was bequeathed 10,000 glass negatives from the late 1800s to the 1950s these were by the Vine & Thelma studios of mostly, portraits, weddings and historical photos. Also owned by the WHS is the Maianne Gibson crazy patchwork quilt made by a Wangaratta woman in the 1890s and now Heritage listed. This Quilt is housed in an specially controlled conditions. The Wangaratta Historical Society Museum was accredited in 2012 under the Museums Accreditation Program.

In this era women of Marianne Gibson's position in society were chaperoned and chauffeured, their role was that of wife and mother, busy in their home. Women did not have the vote and those who worked were servants who lived with families. The Gibson family was well respected in the community and Marianne was the mother of 8 children.The Marianne Gibson Quilt is one of the finest examples of crazy patchwork quilting known to exist globally. It features items from her husband's hardware shop, household objects, oriental designs as well as local fauna and flora and the quality of the needlework is outstanding. It is extremely well preserved and unfaded. For a short film about the Marianne Gibson Quilt, visit Culture Victoria: http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/marianne-gibsons-crazy-patchwork-quilt/11762/marianne-gibsons-crazy-patchwork-quilt/The Marianne Gibson Quilt is owned by the Wangaratta Historical Society and was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2011. Marianne Gibson was born in Ireland and 1863 and married her cousin Alexander McCulla Gibson in 1864 in Wangaratta. The quilt is"...one of the finest examples of a crazy patchwork quilt in the world" (Victorian Heritage Register) and is composed of 9 blocks featuring silks and velvets with a backing of beige silk. The crazy patchwork style popular between 1876 and 1920 encompasses many different patterns that tell stories of that age and uniquely showcases local flora and fauna. Marianne made the quilt between 1891 and 1896. She loved flowers, birds, her garden and especially her family. This is evident in her quilt embroidery and stitching so lovingly demonstrated. Marianne died on 8th March 1911. She left the quilt to her daughters Clara and Edith who gave it to their housekeeper Miss Alma Gard in 1934. When Miss Gard retired to a nursing home in 1985 the quilt was donated to the Wangaratta Historical Society. MG 1891marianne gibson quilt crazy patchwork local fauna flora

Photograph of Quilt Display at Society's Open Day at Schwerkolt Cottage and Museum Complex for Heritage Festival 2000.nunawading & district historical society, heritage festival 2000

Colour photograph of a patchwork quilt.tasmania, patchwork, quilt

Photograph of a quilt made for the Carisbrook flood victims.