By Robyn Moore, Reference Librarian

In Texas, the history of quilts is a long (and comfortable!) one. Settlers who came to the state made quilts for many different reasons: necessity, to commemorate a national event, or just as beautiful artworks. Here at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), you might be surprised to learn that we house several historical quilts in our artifacts collection. The description of this collection says, “Many objects in the collection have little or no accompanying information to provide context for when they were made.” Fortunately, quilts always reveal something of themselves and their makers, even without a written record.

For example, the first quilt is part of the Isabel L. Clark Collection, though the name of the maker is unknown. It is all hand stitched and is thought to be made some time in the between 1830 and 1879. The quilt’s pattern is “similar to Bride’s Puzzle, Twelve Crowns and / or Wedding March,” which probably means that this quilt was made by a newly engaged or married woman wanting to create something beautiful for her home. According to the record, “Of note is the use of tan fabric in place of the off-white fabric in several places.” This probably means that the maker was not affluent enough to purchase all the fabric she needed for this quilt and used some (or all) scraps to make it.