A FLOWERING OF QUILTS: GARDEN PATTERNS AND FLORAL MOTIFS IN NINETEENTH CENTURY SOUTHERN QUILTS by ERIN RACHELLE WILLIAMS (Under the Direction of John C. Waters) ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis is to attempt to answer the question of why a relationship exists between nineteenth century southern gardens and quilts. The research focuses on how the popularity of gardens and gardening among southern women in the nineteenth century, technological advancements in the textile and sewing industries, and the changing social attitudes towards in the nineteenth century united to promote creation of floral quilts during the nineteenth century. It is hoped that this research will prove helpful to those interested in both the history of gardening and quilting and will inspire these same people to preserve quilts, an American art form that tells us so much about our cultural history. INDEX WORDS: Quilting, Gardens, Nineteenth century, Southern states, Preservation, Intangible cultural resources A FLOWERING OF QUILTS: GARDEN PATTERNS AND FLORAL MOTIFS IN NINETEENTH CETNURY SOUTHERN QUILTS by ERIN RACHELLE WILLIAMS B.A., The University of Georgia, 2004 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATHENS, GEORGIA 2006 © 2006 Erin Rachelle Williams All Rights Reserved A FLOWERING OF QUILTS: GARDEN PATTERNS AND FLORAL MOTIFS IN NINETEENTH CETNURY SOUTHERN QUILTS by ERIN RACHELLE WILLIAMS Major Professor: John C. Waters Committee: James R. Cothran Dr. Mary Anne Akers Holly Anderson Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2006 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my mother, Karen Elaine Williams and grandmother, Era Mae Washburn, who have taught me so much about the art of quilting making and the joy and comfort it can bring to the lives of those who have the talent to create quilts and to the lives of the people they love. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to express gratitude to the following: James R. Cothran for inspiring this topic and supporting further research; John C. Waters, my major professor, for his guidance and support through this research process; and my family for their unwavering support, understanding, encouragement, and love. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 2 WOMEN AND GARDENING DURING THE NINETEENTH CETNURY ..4 3 ADVANCEMENTS IN THE TEXTILE AND SEWING INDUSTRIES ......19 4 SOCIAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NINETEENTH CETNURY ..................................................................................................35 5 GARDEN PATTERNS AND FLORAL MOTIFS IN NINETEENTH CENTURY SOUTHERN QUILTS.............................................................41 6 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: WHY PRESERVE QUILTS?.....................................................................................................83 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................91 vi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 2.1: Parterre Garden Designs from Leonard Meager’s The English Gardener ........6 Figure 2.2: Our Flower Garden—December from Peterson’s Magazine ..........................12 Figure 2.3: The Lady’s Annual Register and Housewife’s Memorandum-Book cover page ...................................................................................................................14 Figure 2.4: Fruitland Nurseries Advertisement as it appeared in Southern Cultivator .....16 Figure 2.5: Godey’s Lady’s Book Advertisement as it appeared in Southern Cultivator ..16 Figure 2.6: Bloomsdale Nursery Product Label ................................................................16 Figure 3.1: Singer’s Sewing Machine Advertisement .......................................................24 Figure 3.2: Elias Howe’s Patented Sewing Machine.........................................................24 Figure 3.3: Past and Present...............................................................................................24 Figure 3.4: A Plan for an Autograph Quilt Square from Godey’s Lady’s Book ................27 Figure 3.5: A Pattern for an Autograph Bed Quilt from Godey’s Lady’s Book ................27 Figure 3.6: A Patchwork Quilt Pattern ..............................................................................27 Figure 3.7: A Patchwork Quilt Pattern ..............................................................................27 Figure 3.8: A Pattern for a Variegated Patchwork Quilt from Godey’s Lady’s Book .......28 Figure 3.9: A Pattern for a Silk Patchwork Quilt from Godey’s Lady’s Book ..................28 Figure 3.10: An Illustration of a Nineteenth Century Quilting Bee from Godey’s Lady’s Book ...................................................................................................................32 Figure 5.1: Flowers in an Urn Quilt...................................................................................43 vii Figure 5.2: An Urn Design from Landreth’s Rural Almanac ............................................44 Figure 5.3: An Urn Design from A. J. Downing’s Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening .......................................................................................44 Figure 5.4: An Urn Design from A. J. Downing’s Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening .......................................................................................44 Figure 5.5: Fruit and Flowers Quilt ...................................................................................44 Figure 5.6: Log Fence Quilt...............................................................................................46 Figure 5.7: A Split Rail Log Fence....................................................................................46 Figure 5.8: An Irish Chain Quilt with Picket Fence and Palm Trees ...............................47 Figure 5.9: An Illustration of a Picket Fence from Household Monthly ...........................47 Figure 5.10: An Irish Chain Quilt......................................................................................50 Figure 5.11: An Amateur Drawing of the Gardens at “Scotland” in Kentucky ................50 Figure 5.12: A Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt ........................................................52 Figure 5.13: A Raised Appliqué Quilt...............................................................................53 Figure 5.14: A Circular Ribbon Garden ............................................................................54 Figure 5.15: A Texas Star Quilt.........................................................................................55 Figure 5.16: A Drawing of “Traveler’s Rest” in Nashville, Tennessee.............................56 Figure 5.17: A Rose Wreath Quilt .....................................................................................59 Figure 5.18: An Illustration of Roses in a Bowl from Elias A. Long’s The Home Florist ................................................................................................................60 Figure 5.19: An Illustration of a Conventionalized Rose from The Home-Maker ............60 Figure 5.20: Rose Wreath Quilt.........................................................................................60 Figure 5.21: A Cockscomb Motif Quilt.............................................................................62 viii Figure 5.22: A Cockscomb Bloom ....................................................................................62 Figure 5.23: A Plaster Ceiling Ornament from John C. Loudon’s An Encyclopedia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture ......................................63 Figure 5.24: A Lily Motif Quilt .........................................................................................64 Figure 5.25: A Lily Bloom.................................................................................................64 Figure 5.26: A Tulip Motif Quilt.......................................................................................66 Figure 5.27: An Illustration of a Parrot Tulip from Elias A. Long’s The Home Florist ...68 Figure 5.28: A Sunflower Motif Quilt ...............................................................................68 Figure 5.29: A Sunflower Bloom.......................................................................................68 Figure 5.30: A Daisy Motif Quilt ......................................................................................70 Figure 5.31: An Illustration of a Cluster of Daisies from Elias A. Long’s The Home Florist ................................................................................................................70 Figure 5.32: A Rose of Sharon Quilt .................................................................................72 Figure 5.33: A Rose of Sharon Bloom...............................................................................72 Figure 5.34: A Pomegranate Motif Quilt...........................................................................74