The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects

Bars quilt

Item

1936_1_1_1 copy.jpg
1936_1_1_2 copy.jpg
1936_1_1_3 copy.jpg
1936_1_1_6.JPG
1936_1_1_7.JPG
1936_1_1_8.JPG
1936_1_1_10.JPG
1936_1_1_11.JPG
1936_1_1_12.JPG
1936_1_1_16.JPG

Title

Bars quilt

Description

Quilt belonging to Elizabeth Tyler Sturgeon. The quilt has strips of hand-woven cloth believed to have been made locally in Jefferson County, Kentucky, alternating with a commercial indigo print that was imported into the United States. The quilt, the oldest quilt in the Filson's collection, is more than 100 inches long on each side and was completely hand-stitched. Eliza married Thomas Sturgeon in 1816, who died seven years into their marriage in 1822. Eliza then took on the responsibility of managing their farm in addition to rearing her three young sons. Eliza enslaved seven people who provided crucial labor for the success of the farm and household. After her husband died, an unidentified enslaved woman helped Eliza manage the farm. In 1833, Eliza died from cholera leaving her three sons, all under the age of eighteen, to live with her brother.

Source

The Filson Historical Society Museum Collection

Date

Format

Language

Identifier

1936.1.1

Citation

Attributed to Elizabeth Tyler Sturgeon, “Bars quilt,” The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects, accessed March 28, 2024, https://filsonhistorical.omeka.net/items/show/5852.