Liberty Tree Quilt
Mrs. S.K. Daniels
1896
69" x 80"
Cotton
MSU Museum Accession 2001:158.5
Photo by Mary Whalen, all rights reserved by MSU Museum

Quilts embroidered with pieced-block patterns of tree designs usually date to after the Civil War. In this signed, dated, and embroidered "Pine Tree" quilt, Mrs. Daniels commemorates Civil War generals and battles as well as postwar elected officials, including U.S. President McKinley and his first vice-president, Hobart. She also embroidered patriotic phrases on the quilt: "One Flag, One Country," "We love the dear old Flag," and, in the center, "Liberty Tree." The quilt's patriotic theme is further carried out through the use of red and blue fabrics pieced to form the leaf sections of the trees, which are set against a white background fabric.

Like other women who have used their quilts to express political interests or opinions about politics or social issues, Mrs. Daniels expressed her support of the late nineteenth-centry temperance movement in the United States by including on her quilt the phrase "abstain from strong drink."

By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

The block inscriptions are:
"Appomattx, VA. April 1, 1865. Grant," "Liberty Tree," "Abstain from Strong Drink," "Hatchers Run Feb. 5 to 7 1865 Grant," "Pittsburg Landing April 1862," "Pittsburg Landing April 6 1862." Inscriptions around outer edge: "Wm McKinley 1896," "Appomatax April 1865 Grant," "Five Forks 1 April Sheridan," "Wilson Creek, MO Aug 10 861 Lyon," "J B Tanner," "One Flag One Country," "Marching through Georgia," "Atlanta Georgia July 22 1863," "Mrs. S K Daniels Mach 1896," "Wm.. Northcott," "Five Forks Mo. April 1 1865 Sheridan," "Raleigh NC Aprill 26, 1865 Sherman," "Raleigh NC April 26 1865 Sherman." Additional inscriptions: "C A Hobert," "Battle of Chickamauga Sept 199-20 1863,," "We love the dear old Flag," "Washington, Lincoln, Grant," "Battle of Chattanooga Dec 23, 24, 25 1863"