Some partisans were content to wear a ribbon. Quilter Abigail Ann Lane and her husband, William Bagley Lane, acquired enough Whig and William Henry Harrison ribbons to sleep in. The quilt is composed of three different ribbon designs. The most prevalent ribbon commemorates Harrison’s inauguration as president in March 1841 and his death about a month later, a date printed near the bottom of the ribbon that was not part of the original engraving. The quilt is made of 432 ribbons stitched together and backed with plain white linen. According to family tradition, the Lanes acquired—or were left with—an overstock of ribbons for Mrs. Lane to assemble the quilt.
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.