Quilts from the Herman B. Wells Estate
Herman B. Wells just a year before assuming the role of interim president of Indiana University.
Herman B. Wells and Wylie House
Herman B. Wells served as president of Indiana University from 1938 to 1962. Under his leadership, the university made profound changes such as drastically increasing the size of the student body, developing an international scope, and investing heavily in the arts and culture on campus.
It was under the direction of Wells in 1947 that Wylie House was purchased; he believed it to be a significant piece of the university's history. Throughout his life, Wells collected art and antiques. He amassed a considerable collection, and a portion of his estate came under the care of Wylie House Museum after his death in 2000.
A selection of the quilts from that estate are presented below.
Anna Bernice Harting Wells (pictured at center) with her husband and son.
Double Wedding Ring Quilt created by Anna B. Harting Wells, Herman B. Wells' mother.
Anna B. Harting Wells' Double Wedding Ring Quilt
Anna Bernice Harting Wells, Herman B. Wells' mother, constructed this quilt in the 1930s. With its ambitious quilting, colorful, well-composed rings, and scalloped border, this quilt is both an excellent example of the pattern and of Depression Quilts more broadly. This pattern remains popular and highly sought after by collectors.
As the name implies, the Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern is associated with love and marriage. Late 19th century examples of this pattern exist, but it reached new levels of popularity in the 20th century with the wide publication of its pattern and the revival of scrappy quilting aesthetics in the 1930s. Anna Well's quilt falls into that 20th century tradition.
Anna passed this quilt into her son's care. It then came to Wylie House with the Herman B. Wells estate.