Federal Eagle Quilt on display

Bridget Bese Nash

May 01, 2008 08:27 am

— By Bridget Bese Nash
Staff Writer

A prized possession is on display at the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum in Woodward.
That possession is what is known as the Federal Eagle Quilt.
“I have been told that if the building catches on fire that (quilt) is the first thing I take out,” said Museum Curator Ian Swart.
Why is this quilt so special that it is first on the list of things to save from a fire?
“It was made, we think around 1822, by Anna Catharine Hummel Markey Garnhart,” said Swart. “It was made for the birth of her first grandchild, John David Markey and he was born in 1822.”
Garnhart lived in Frederick, MD and her first husband was a Revolutionary War soldier.
The quilt on display in an example of Garnhart’s skill and unique creativity.
“The entire quilt is done in reverse appliqué,” said Swart.
Swart explained that normal appliqué is done with individual pieces applied to the top of the quilt.
“Reverse (appliqué) is using a solid cloth that is then cut to reveal pieces underneath,” said Swart. “That in itself is hard to do but her work is even more extraordinary because of the detailed work she did.”
Garnhart’s quilt boasts 16 to 22 stitches per inch “which is pretty phenomenal,” said Swart.
The fabric of Garnhart’s quilt also makes it unique. Swart said Garnhart would send to Baltimore for her fabric, paying $1 a yard, a hefty price in the 19th century, for fabric imported from Europe.
Garnhart lived from 1773 until 1860 and Swart said it is believed she made eleven quilts for her grandchildren and nine still exist.
The quilt came to Oklahoma with family members of Garnhart during the opening of the Cherokee Strip and was given to the museum in 1966 by Geneva Covey Drake who had inherited the quilt.
The quilt was taken to Washington D. C. in 1985 to be part of a display in the Daughters of the Revolution Museum. Two of Garnhart’s quilts were in that particular show.
In 1991 the quilt made yet another trip to the nation’s capital to be part of an exhibit honoring Garnhart and it was displayed with the eight known other remaining Garnhart quilts.
“It was determined that ours was in the best condition of all those she had made,” said Swart.
The quilt will be on display at the museum for the month of May.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.