Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - January 20, 1985
By Judy Calvert
Vigo County Historical Society

Names quilted into history

Autograph quilts were once popular and profitable projects of ladies' groups to raise money for favorite causes. Usually a fee was charged for having one's name on the quilt. The finished product was sold to raise additional funds.

This weeks historical treasure is an autograph quilt made by the Ladies' Aid Society of the North Terre Haute Baptist Church about 1918 or 1919. The church, formerly on Park Avenue in North Terre Haut , is now on Hall Avenue, next to Otter Creek Junior High School.

It cost 10 cents to have one's name on the quilt. Each member of the group did some of the embroidery. All of the quilting was done by Harriett Adams, the grandmother of the donor of the quilt, Vesta Adams Farrow. She acquired the quilt many years ago from her grandfather, the Rev. D. M. Adams, who, it is believed paid $25 for the quilt.

The lightweight, white quilt is quilted in small squares with the names embroidered in red, green, yellow, black. blue and lavender, in circles. Hearts are quilted in each corner of the blocks with the names.

The 253 names are both printed and in script. Men's and women's names are included. The only business name is Crabb's Store. Several of the women whose names are on the quilt are still living. All of the family names are familiar to Otter Creek Township residents.

Although the quilt is only 64 years old, it is an important part of Vigo County historical heritage.