Quilt
Period1854
Place MadeFulton Township area, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
MediumSold and printed cottons
Dimensions100 × 100 in. (254 × 254 cm)
ClassificationsQuilts and Coverlets
Credit LineGift of Mrs. William M. Ivins, 1933
Object number1988.613
DescriptionA quilt using the Fleur de Lis pattern, with seven by seven straight blocks of appliqued red print and red solid cotton fleur de lis motifs on plain white cotton ground, set edge to edge with no sashing. The quilt includes a border of two sawtooth bands of solid red cotton. The backing is plain white cotton. The thin batting is held in position with quilting in chain and leaf motifs throughout. The center of each square includes a hand written inked name, often with location, and one including the date of 1854Curatorial RemarksThe fleur-de-lis pattern appears to have been a popular motif for friendship quilts in and around the Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania region from about 1845 to 1855. At least one of these regional quilts have a Quaker connection. Adaline Swift's quilt, however, seems to include those of the Mennonite, Presbyterian, and Methodist Episcopal faiths.NotesThis quilt belonged to, and may have been made for, Adaline Clark Swift Yard. Born in 1837 in Fulton Township (originally called New Britain), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Adaline was the daughter of Daniel Doughty Swift (1807-1877) and Lavinia/Lavenia Clark (1808-possibly 1877). The town was renamed in 1844 after its most famous resident, Robert Fulton, inventor of the first successful commercial steamship, the "Claremont." Adaline attended the Pittsfield Young Ladies Institute in Massachusetts. Her name appears in the 1847, 1848, and 1849 catalogues. In the 1850 Federal Census, she appears listed as a member of her parents' household in Fulton. In 1856, Adaline married James Sterling Yard. The couple moved to Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ, where Yard purchased the Monmouth Democrat newspaper. He worked as owner, editor, and publisher for decades. The reason for the creation of this quilt is unknown. At first glance, it would appear to be a typical fundraiser quilt for a local church or community group, where participants "purchased" a quilt block and added their names to the block or blocks. Signature quilts were often presented to departing ministers and their wives. In this instance, however, the names on the blocks appear to be Adaline's friends, relatives, and family members. The one dated block, 1854, is inscribed "Emma Laura Swift." Emma (1833-1859) was Adaline's older sister. It is quite possible that Emma began the quilt as a marriage gift for her sister, and enlisted the help and sewing skills of female relatives, to produce the quilt for her younger sister's future household. Adaline may have treasured this quilt, in part because Emma, four years older than Adaline, was 26 when she died in 1859 of consumption. Adaline Clark Swift Yard's daughter, Emma Swift Ivins, donated the quilt to the Association in 1933.
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