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Recently a friend bought a vintage quilt top in Anchorage, AK which contained the names of several women along with the dates 1928 and 1944. The woman who sold the top had no information regarding it's history and didn't know any of the women who were named nor where it was made. Maybe some of you know some of these names and can provide information as to the source. My friend would love to return the top to someone who has a direct connection with it. A preliminary check of Ethlyn Wetmore got a link to an Oklahoma census in 1940 but not much else.

Here are the names: These spellings are given as provided by my friend and raise some questions - Are Mrs. Wetmeore and Ethlyn Wetmoore related? Is it Lula or Tula? Walker or Walher? Are Gladys and Lavina related? Why are some "Mrs." and others give their first name? Does this differentiation tell us anything about their relative ages? Also - were these women in a club and making this for one of the members? What do the years 1928 and 1944 tell us about the women?

Mrs. Nipher,
Polly Sheley,
Lula Turner (Tula?),
Eliza Dennis,
Gladys Walker (Walher?),
Lavina Walker,
Jessie Rusche,
Katie Stevens,
Beulah Askren,
Chrystal Anthier,
Mrs Wood,
Mrs. Wetmeore
Ethlyn Wetmoore,
Bertha Millen,
Margaret Shiffer,
Mrs, Paxston

Onebyone

It was very common for married women to never use their name, always Mrs. John Doe or Mrs.Doe. In older church or group cookbooks the names are always like that. I never understood it, they had no identity at all. My grandmother signed checks Mrs. John Doe. With so many names not being a Mrs. I think the married women helped or sewed with a lot of younger unmarried ones, Possibly a church, or group project.

ptquilts

Have you looked on FamilySearch website? Some of those names are pretty unique. I would start with Chrystal Anthier.

blueberrygirl

Several, at least, of these ladies show up in the 1930 Census of Seneca, Kansas.

osewme

This is quite a task for you. I just randomly pulled up Margaret Shiffer & here's what I found below. Without knowing maiden names or middle names, this might be impossible to find on these special ladies. Good luck in your search.

https://www.myheritage.com/names/margaret_shiffer

sewbizgirl

Seems like a quilting guild..... and since these women are long gone, I'd finish the quilt top and just enjoy it as an historic quilt.

blueberrygirl

I have now found all living in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas in 1930, except Chrystal Anthier. I don't find anyone of that name in the census, so perhaps the spelling is off by a lot. She might have been a sister or mother or other relative of one of these women visiting from elsewhere. Email [email protected] for help in tracking down descendants, and identifying the group responsible for the quilt. Fun puzzle!

blueberrygirl

Here is a timely resource: Tomorrow, Wednesday, 14 September, Textile Talks will feature "Digging Deeper: Researching Inscribed Names on Antique Quilts". The talk is scheduled for 2-3 pm EDT. You can register and view the recording later. https://mailchi.mp/saqa/textile-talk...2?e=4c25d58407

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I think it is wonderful that your friend would like to connect with family of one or more of the ladies mentioned. Some of those ladies may still be living and if not this might be a wonderful surprise for a member of their family. Those ladies may well have children and grandchildren who would be pleased to know about the quilt top. Why not write directly to some official of that county and see if they could be of help to you. They may well have a group who would be very pleased to have the opportunity to help your friend. I would think that the public library in that county would be a good place to start. If your friend is unsuccessful in locating family of those named she can always just sit back and enjoy the quilt but if she does nothing she may be unable to experience the joy that might await just around the corner. If the distance is no prohibitive it might make for a fun little road trip to see what information she can gather. Please keep us posted on the search and any results you may find.

dunster

Interesting that the quilt wound up in Alaska when it appears it started out in Kansas.