Friendship Quilt 1

Anna Erickson’s Friendship Quilt - 1930s

Financial security could easily be uncertain for rural families in the early 20th century.  The untimely loss of a husband could throw a family into even more desperate circumstances.  This was the case with Anna Erickson, who lived in Athens, Wisconsin.

Born in 1883, Anna Pratt married Conrad Erickson and they settled in Athens.  They lived on a farm with their children Anna, Dorothy, Fay, Lois, and Morris.  When their youngest child was only 12 months old, Conrad died unexpectedly leaving Anna with a farm to run and five children to support.  Anna continued farming for several decades, likely with the help of her children, relatives, and neighbors.  This experience drove Anna to tell her daughters they had to become teachers or nurses so they’d be able to support themselves.

Through these hard times, Anna had support from the Town of Johnson Homemakers Club members, a group she helped form in 1920.  Anna assembled this friendship quilt, using blocks made and signed in embroidery by each member, about 1930. 

After Anna’s death in 1959, the quilt passed to her daughter Dorothy (she became a teacher) and then to Dorothy’s daughter, Donna (also a teacher).

The Quilt

Light purple fabrics and embroidered designs were popular during the 1930s, as were friendship quilts with the signatures of everyone who contributed to the quilt.

In this quilt, 21 embroidered blocks on white fabric alternate with solid lilac blocks.  Each white block has a different embroidered design; most are floral but there are also butterflies and a bird.  The name of the woman who made each block is embroidered below the design.  Rows of solid lilac blocks were used at the top and sides of the quilt to achieve the desired size.  The top blocks would probably have been hidden by pillows.  The piece was machine quilted and has a cotton batting and tan cotton backing. There is no edge binding.

This “friendship quilt” was made by members of the Town of Johnson Homemakers Club (near Athens, in Marathon County) around 1930.  Each member of the club made several blocks signed with her name, then exchanged blocks with other members.  The block Anna Erickson made is in the middle of the top row.

Town of Johnson Homemakers Club

In late November 1920, the Johnson Women’s Club (later called the Johnson Extension Homemakers Club) was organized with eight charter members from the Athens and surrounding area in western Marathon County.  Their founding task was to help the teacher at the nearby Ladd School with the hot lunch program.  Membership grew quickly and the group was soon so large that it was divided into two groups so members could continue to host club meetings in their homes.

The Johnson club met regularly in the homes of its members, rotating with each member acting as hostess.  Their goal was to improve the homemaking skills of their rural members and to take an interest in community affairs.  In addition to “friendship quilt” blocks, members exchanged aprons, towels and other useful items, and hosted picnics and other gatherings.  They also joined with nearby clubs to host larger meetings on important topics related to health and home education. Money raised through monthly dues, rummage sales and other events was distributed to local charities and schools. 

The Johnson Homemakers Club was active for 84 years, disbanding in 2004.