Tumbling Blocks Quilt

Tumbling Blocks Quilt

1865-1870

Maxwell, Mary E. Dunn

Tumbling Blocks

60 x 74 inches

Satin

"Tumbling Blocks" quilt Pieced using a solid red for the top of every block and thus the predominant color in the quilt, with various prints and solids in other colors for the other pieces; the non-red colors are arranged so that rows of like blocks appear to cut across the quilt diagonally. Red, ruffled borders. Top fabrics appear to be satin; light blue backing is satin-like, if not real satin. Instead of being quilted, backing is tacked to the top along the edges and at mid points; furthermore, the blue backing is attached over a white backing which is tacked more often. Red feather stitching all around the back edges.

According to family history, this quilt was made by Mary Effie Maxwell (12/25/1845 - 11/16/1903), the apparently never-married daughter of Bloomingtonians James Darwin Maxwell and Louisa Jane Howe Maxwell. Miss Maxwell's maternal grand- father was James Howe, Bloomington's most prosperous merchant and a vital civic leader during the Andrew Wylie era. Her paternal grandfather was Dr. David Hervey Mawell, physician, major state politician, and a nearly continuous member and most-often president of the IU Board of Trustees during the university's first 30 years; few people then or now would argue with giving him the title, "Founding Father of Indiana University". Her paternal grandmother was Mary E. Dunn Maxwell; see the Notes on quilt 2BEqu-12 for some of her history. Addtional/Revised Notes: It is more likely that this quilt was actually made by Mary E. Maxwell (maiden name: Mary E. Dunn), as the note provided with the quilt says MRS. Maxwell and granddaughter, Mary Effie Maxwell was never married. Additionally, the note says that the maker was 86 at the time. The granddaughter would have been 24 at the time the quilt was made. Mary E. Maxwell was the wife of Dr. David Hervey Maxwell and the mother of nine children. She also made quilt 1999.1.9. (Grace P. Young collector/donor)

1999.001.0008

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