Quilts Made in Michigan

Michigan State University Sesquicentennial Quilt Top designed and made by Beth Donaldson with research assistance by Merry Silber and Marsha MacDowell, machine quilted by Lynne MacDowell. 2005 East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan Cotton 87” x 95” MSUM 2005:31.1 Photo by Pearl Yee Wong, all rights reserved Michigan State University Museum Merry Silber commissioned this quilt, filled with images and symbols important to Michigan State University history, to commemorate the university’s 150th birthday. Beth Donaldson and Lynne MacDowell donated their time. Beth also donated the fabric.

Key to images and designs on the quilt:
1. “Community,” stained glass window, MSU Alumni Chapel
2. “Corn and Beans” traditional quilt pattern
3. “Hole in the Barn Door” (with rooster), traditional quilt pattern
4. “Aquarius,” sculpture, Butterfield Hall, Brody Complex
5. Beaumont Tower
6. “Afternoon Shadows” traditional quilt pattern (MSU Shadows printed in center)
7. “Cheesebox” traditional quilt pattern
8. “Women,” stained glass window, MSU Alumni Chapel
9. Official MSU sesquicentennial logo
10. South entrance, MSU Museum
11. “The Sower,” stone relief scuplture, Beaumont Tower
12. “Crossed Canoes” traditional quilt pattern
13. “Hole in the Barn Door” (with swine), traditional quilt pattern
14. “Sparty,” ceramic sculpture
15. Miniature version of “Star of Bethlehem” quilt in the MSU Museum’s collection
16. “Duck’s Foot in the Mud,” traditional quilt pattern
17. “Hole in the Barn Door” (with sheep), traditional quilt pattern
18. “The Rock,” site of traditional protest signs, MSU campus
19. “Metamorphosis II,” bronze sculpture, MSU Cyclotron
20. Western facade, Agriculture Hall
21. “Diffusion of Knowledge,” stained glass window, MSU Alumni Chapel
22. Detail of gate by Louis Sullivan, logo of Kresge Art Museum
23. “Flying Geese,” traditional quilt pattern
24. “4-H,” traditional quilt pattern
25. “Hole in the Barn Door” (with cow), traditional quilt pattern
26. “Orpheus,” sculpture, Wharton Center
27. “Michigan Beauty,” traditional quilt pattern
28. “Blossom Time, “traditional quilt pattern
29. “Untitled,” stone relief sculpture, Music Building
30-33. Campus lanterns

Quilt block diagram for key

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