1. Quilts at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893
Forgotten at the Fair
TOPIC
Quilting has been an American tradition women’s needlecraft for more than 200 years.
By the Victorian Age women’s needle work was at it’s height.
The Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition made a concerted effort to excel in exhibits of fine art.
Women’s Building highlighted the accomplishment of women throughout history.
One would expect Quilts to have been exhibited.
Research Method’s
Contacted individuals Xenia McCord AQSG and Merikay Waldvogle Alliance for AQ
Reviewed the Chicago Tribune for the year 1893 on topic related to quilts the Fair and the Woman’s Pavilion
Reviewed books on exhibits: The National Exposition Souvenir (for the Women’s Bldg) What America Owes to Women, Art and Handicrafts in the Women’s Bldg, The Book of the Fair
Sewing in the Victorian Age, the Arts and Crafts Movement, and Candace Wheeler
Take a look at what was occurring 40 years before the fair and 40 years after the fair with regards to making quilts.
Hopefully this will give an indication of what to expect at the Fair of 1893
Quilts at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893

2. Baltimore Album Quilt made in 1840
Notice the level of detail
Would you consider this art?

3. 1850 Floral Appliqué

4. Intensity of the quilting and the amount of time it must have taken

5. Chicago’s World’s Fair 1933
25,000 entries for this contest

6. The winning quilt was presented to Eleanor Roosevelt
Quilting had become commercial and had notable supporters

7. Tradition of needlework in the Hull-House Labor Museum to preserve the art and crafts of ethnic groups, forge links between 1st generation immigrants and the experiences of their children.
Crewel embroidery
Notice the fact that they embroidered everything

8. Victorian women of all ranks in society were taught to sew
Sew the clothes for your family, make the cloth
Fine intricate had work
This is a Hull-House after school class for the neighborhood children in the Smith Bldg.
Jane Adam’s was considered the first to bring the Arts and Crafts movement to Chicago, after having visited Toynbee Hall in England. Along with Ellen Gates Star they embraced the theory of art feeding the soul and uplifting the laborer

9. This bring us to the vast amount of embroidery that was done in the Victorian age
Example of fine silk embroidery
One of the interesting quotes from “The National Exposition Souvenir” book for the woman building at the fair; Stated that women acutely invented all of today's modern industries, first to cook, first to use a needle, first to turn flax and wool into cloth, and it wasn’t until these industries became profitable that men got involved.
At the fair the manufacturing of silk embroidery thread was a 2,000,000 industry and there was a eight installment article on the History of the Spool, concerning the making of cotton thread. When you add the manufacturing of sewing machines and textiles, this was all in place because women sewed so much.

10. Photo of Mark Twain’s home decorated by the woman who was appointed by Mrs. Potter Palmer chairman of the Ladies Board of Manager to decorate the Women’s Building.

13. Scanning brought to you through the courtesy of:
Carlin Sappenfield