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New England Emigrant Aid Company quilt fragment - Page

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New England Emigrant Aid Company quilt fragment

The family story that has been handed down with this quilt indicates that it was made by the women of the Boston Emigrant Aid Society to be sold at a charity raffle in Lawrence, Kansas Territory, in 1855. The wool circles behind the ties were said to be cut from Revolutionary War uniforms. The comforter's raffle raised money to help New Englanders who were settling Kansas with the hope that their votes would make the Territory a free soil rather than slave-holding state. The quilt was bought by Dr. Sylvester B. Prentiss, who impressed its value upon his family. At some point it was cut into several pieces, probably so that each child could have a souvenir. The Kansas Historical Society Museum owns two such pieces.

Creator: Boston Emigrant Aid Society
Date: 1855

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About this item

Item Number: 209928
Call Number: 1941.1.1
KSHS Identifier: 1941.1.1

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