1860 - 1870 Polly Fetherolf's "Log Cabin" Child's Quilt

Description:

In 1977 Laura M. Trexler donated this child’s quilt made by her great-grandmother in the mid-nineteenth century. According to family history it was made for Polly’s daughter, Lucetta (1851-1934). Lucetta was married to Amos D. Trexler (1845-1915) in the early 1870s and the quilt was used for all their children, the last born in 1890. They lived in Trexler, Pennsylvania, where the family had several businesses.

The “Log Cabin”-patterned quilt is composed of four 6½-inch blocks pieced with beige and fuchsia wool and wool/cotton fabrics. A 5-inch border in beige frames the four “Log Cabin” blocks. It is machine quilted with a chain stitch.

Maria (Polly) Kistler, daughter of John Kistler and Maria Brobst, was born October 20, 1824 in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. She married Daniel W. Fetherolf (b. 1821) in 1844. They farmed, and on the 1880 census were still living in Lynn Township. Maria (Polly) died in 1910 and is buried in the St. Jacobs Union Church Cemetery, Jacksonville, Lynn Township, Pennsylvania.

Date Made: 1860-1870

Maker: Fetherolf, Polly

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Lehigh countyAssociated Place: United States: Pennsylvania

Subject: QuiltingChildren

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Textiles, Textiles, Domestic Furnishings, Quilts

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Laura M. Trexler

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TE.T18384Accession Number: 1978.0619Catalog Number: T18384

Object Name: quilt, crib

Physical Description: fabric, wool, wool/cotton (overall material)thread, cotton (overall material)filling, cotton (overall material)Measurements: overall: 37 in x 38 in; 94 cm x 97 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-bd52-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_556596

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.