Fall officially arrives September 22, and as temperatures begin to cool you may find yourself reaching into your closet for the warm jacket you found at a vintage store or that cozy quilt that has been in your family for generations. Are you curious about when your coat was made? Are you unsure of when your quilt was produced or the pattern’s name? Perhaps your quilt resembles Mrs. Wesley Wright’s quilt of red and green appliqued Dutch tulips. Mrs. Wesley made her quilt while living in Trough Creek Valley, Pennsylvania, in 1840. The appearance of red and green floral appliqué quilts follows the immigration path of some Germans, who settled first in Pennsylvania and then, like this quilt’s maker, moved west to Ohio.
Dutch Tulips Appliqué Quilt Mrs. Wesley Wright 1840 Ohio History Connection Collection, H 6523
Whether you have your grandmother’s wedding dress or your great-grandmother’s quilt, come out to the Ohio History Center to learn more about your family heirlooms! Join our curatorial team as we help visitors to learn more about the clothing and quilts in their personal collection. So dust off those dresses and air out your quilts as we work together to solve these mysteries of history!