Vigo County Historical Society

Quilt features political theme

Amid a fascinating collection of political memorabilia--on loan primarily from Eleanor Cox Riggs with contributions from John Mutchner, Fred Bauer and Michael McCormick--hangs a quilt.

Made from colorful scraps of silk and velvet, the quilt contains an odd assortment of political figures appliquéd in oriental dress with hand-drawn faces. To accent the political theme, campaign ribbons are sewn into the quilt: "Cleveland/Hendricks--Victory" and "Daniel W. Voorhees, Re-Elected Senator from Indiana.

The "good luck" horseshoe in royal purple with a garland of flowers decorates the top center area of the piece.

Known as a "crazy quilt," which was a popular design in the late 19th century, it measures 64 inches by 61 inches. It is trimmed in red faggoting, and backed with black-and-white checkered satin. Yellow feather stitching outlines each colorful front patch.

One quilting book published in 1885, describes the crazy quilt as follows: "Crazy Patchwork has now become so popular as to require but little instruction. As the name indicates, it is simply sewing odd scraps and bits of silk, satin and plush. Pieces from the cast-off neckwear of gentleman friends, old ribbons, samples of friends’ dresses, etc. (of which any size or shape can be used), in a ‘haphazard’ sort of way, so that the angles may somewhat imitate the craze or crackle of old china, from which all this kind of work derives its name."

The quilt, which serves as an accompaniment to the exhibit called "On the Campaign Trail," was received by the Vigo County Historical Society from the estate of Judge Randolph H. Wedding, who came to Indiana in 1817 and served as an associate judge in Terre Haute for many years.

The exhibit will be on display through the November election.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.