Textile Gardens: Quilts of the Powers Family (Exhibit now Closed)

1917 "Rose of Sharon" quilt detail.

Almost all of the Powers family quilts are floral patterns or made with predominately floral-design fabric. Many of the quilts were still in use at the Powers home when they became property of the Powers Museum, thus they have been lovingly used and cared for over many years. Unfortunately, though, we do not know who quilted many of these quilts. While Marian Wright Powers pieced many of her own quilts, indications are they were quilted by either a neighbor friend who quilted for hire or some other commercial textile worker—either way, that talented needleworker remains unknown.

Twin "Rose of Sharon" quilts pieced by Marian Wright Powers in 1917.

 However, two Powers family quilts are well documented by Mrs. Powers' own letters. In 1917, Marian Wright Powers went to New York City to further her musical studies but she found herself with time on her hands that could not be spent in strenuous activities (i.e. shopping, museum visiting, etc.) or else her health and her voice would be strained (and probably not to mention her pocketbook, too), so she began to look for an activity she could do in the hotel room.

The following letter excerpts tell a little bit of the story behind the matching, twin-size "Rose of Sharon" quilts pieced by Mrs. Powers while in New York City. They will be on display along with selected bedroom furniture from the room where they were used. (All the portions below were taken from letters written by Mrs. Powers to her husband, Dr. Everett Powers.)

1-24-1917
Have given up idea of linen bedspreads for our twin beds, as cannot get for less than $10.50 a piece, but may try to get pattern for old-fashioned quilts, as I have time here to make them.

2-10-1917
We practiced this morning and I went down this afternoon and purchased the material for my quilts, the patterns of which Mrs. Cora Harrison sent me last week. I know they will be lovely if I can ever decide how they go. So many details to be worked out from the simple patterns sent.

2-22-1917
I am working like a Trojan on my quilt now and already had a tragedy with it. Is composed of twelve blocks, and I strained a point of sitting up 'til eleven the last three nights to get 3 blocks done, then discovered they were put on wrong, and had to take them out!

2-27-1917
I am still engrossed with the quilt. Have made all the blocks in this one week, and sewed them together ready for the border, which I will begin tomorrow. It certainly a big task and I am almost sorry my beds are twins.

From left to right: Marian "Toots" Louisa Powers, Mira Wright, and Marian Wright Powers pictured c. 1918 outside the Powers home at 314 Euclid Boulevard.

At close examination of the dates, readers may realize that America was soon to be involved in World War I (April 6, 1917). Not too long after the February 27th letter, Mrs. Powers cut short her lessons and headed back home before she and her sister Nira Wright would not be able to return due to the enemy bombing the bridges and isolating New York City from the rest of the country as they and many others feared. There is no further mention of the quilts in her remaining letters from New York City, nor do we know who quilted these pieces.

The Powers family had the opportunity to purchase a new home at 314 Euclid Boulevard shortly after Mrs. Powers arrived home and Mrs. Powers and daughter Marian soon became involved in its redecorating and landscaping. Mrs. Powers also became very active in homefront causes and in 1918 became the head of household when Dr. Powers entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps and headed to Camp Dodge, Iowa.

NOTE:  Quilts are no longer on  display as of mid-August 2010.

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