The Quilt Story

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Detail of the back of the quilt showing the paper templates. One of the papers has Hasell's name written on it.

A quilt top was begun in 1833 by newlywed Susan Williams Crouch. Her husband, Hasell Crouch, a doctor, is said to have assisted wih the design and piecing. The quilt was intended for use in the couple's Charleston, South Carolina home.

After the unexpected deaths of the Crouch's toddler son and then Hasell in 1836, Susan returned to her parents' home in Providence, Rhode Island with her baby daughter Emily. The unfinished quilt and remaining fabrics were packed away in trunks.

Susan's great-nephew Franklin Cushman inherited the trunks in the early 20th century. He was a teacher of history and industrial design and was intrigued by the textiles' technical aspects. Franklin continued working on the quilt top, dividing it into three tops, and making two sample books using fabrics from the quilt along with other fabrics acquired from various sources. 

The Quilt Story