Quilting at Craft Village

            Although Baltimore Album quilts were only made from approximately 1840 to 1865 about 300 of them still exist. The making of these quilts may have died out due to the need for fabric for uniforms and other military uses during the Civil War. In the early 20th century a psychiatrist at Sheppard – Pratt Hospital by the name of Dr. William Rush Dunton, Jr. rediscovered these distinctive quilts. He put the dozen quilts in his collection on display in the hospital so that his patients could enjoy them. Dr. Dunton also published a history of quilts titled simply, “Old Quilts.” His books are prized today and document, in depth, the making of several types of quilts including the Baltimore Album quilt. Dr. Dunton was a pioneer in the development of Occupational Therapy. He felt that quilting was a great therapeutic aid for what he termed ‘nervous ladies.”  Dunton was a co-founder of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy in 1917. Recently Dr. Dunton was posthumously inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame for his dedication to preserving the traditional forms of quilting.

            Baltimore Album quilts are made up of squares that are appliquéd with scenes or objects that were common sights in the Baltimore of the mid-eighteen hundreds. The monuments, buildings, clipper ships and other daily sights are forever remembered in the blocks of the Baltimore Album quilt. Some blocks are of single layered appliqué, some are inked with an (at the time) newly developed permanent ink and then detail is added in embroidery thread, and some are inked only. Names, dates, and verses are all found on these quilts.

            Most often Baltimore Album quilts were made to be given as a present. The recipient was often a Methodist preacher as they were reassigned to a new church about every two years, thus the association with the German/English/Methodist traditions.  These quilts are heavy in the colors red and green. Most often the borders are green with red flowers strewn within. The German tradition of paper cutting (called Scherenschnitte) is most probably the origin for the patterns found on the borders of these quilts. The blocks were most usually 16” square and some were appliquéd, some inked, some embroidered and many were a combination of all of these disciplines. The quilts that exhibit a more English flavor usually have a Crewel Embroidery design made with fine wool yarn in the quilt blocks.

            Although some quilts were given to ministers many were also given, in the Double Ring design, to brides. These quilts contained depictions of the bride’s childhood and future as a married woman. Other types of quilts were the Presentation Quilt (given to a young man when he reached the age of 21 and thus the end of his apprenticeship), the Politically Inspired quilt (often honoring a war hero). Why are cacti so prevalent on a Baltimore Album quilt? The Spanish – American War gave Marylanders their first glimpse of cactus and cactus became a fascination to all of Baltimore.

            Now that you know how one is made, go get your scissors, paper and cloth together and make a Baltimore Album Quilt of your own. I have put a few examples at the bottom for your reference.