Title

Pond Dakota Album Quilt 1893

Creation Date

1893

Accessory

One row of 5 blocks is separated from the main body of 30 blocks.

Maker's Mark

Indians Women's Miss. Society Presbyterian Church 1893 Yankton Agency S.D.

Description

This quilt was sewn by hand by women from the Indian Women's Missionary Society, at the Presbyterian Church at the Yankton Agency in Greenwood, SD.  The quilt originally 36 blocks placed 6 across and 6 down.  It has a title block dated 1893.  The block pattern is the Album or Chimney Sweep pattern.  Each 10.5" x 11" block has one or two cotton prints with a white muslin background.  The quilt back is white muslin.  There is horizontal 2.25" white muslin sashing between each block.  Vertical sashing runs the length of the quilt and is 1.5" wide.  There are no borders.  The hand quilting pattern is Baptist Fans.  Each block contains the handwritten name of a person affiliated with the quiltmakers.  Most are Native American Dakota women who were living in at the Greenwood Dakota Mission in 1893.  Names also include the Presbyterian pastors, their wives, and the white teachers who worked at the mission.  There are 34 signature blocks, and one title block.  One row of blocks has been cut off the quilt, but was found in collection and has been united with the original quilt.  One block is missing from the end of that detached row. The names on the blocks are: Fanny Arconge, Harriet Aungie, Amy Bearshield, Esther Bobtail, Victoria Brazeau, Emma Bright Eyes, Mrs. Butcher, Madeline Campbell, Melissa Clarkson, Angelique Cordier, Margaret Greyhawk, Josephine Hero, Ellen Istamaza, Eunice Iyuduza, Ellen Jackson, Belle Kitto, Clara Lyman, Abbie L. Miller, Flora Mimana, Lucy Omaha, Ellen Pacquette, Agnes Pond, Mary Rondell, Betsy Selwyn, Rev. Henry T. Selwyn native pastor, Ellen Simmons, Gertie Simmons, Victoria Simmons, Eliza Sitoka, Julie St. Pierre, Rosalie Standingbear, Eunice Tiyopona, Rev. J.P. Williamson missionary, Mrs. J.P. Williamson.  The quilt came to the Bloomington Historical Society through the Pond family.  It was most likely made for Agnes Pond as a gift when she returned to Bloomington from working as a teacher at the Yankton Presbyterian Mission.  Two other quilts made by the Indian Women's Missionary Society are documented in the book Minnesota Quilts by the Minnesota Quilt Project (2005) and belong to descendants of Rev. J.P. and Sarah Williamson.

Geographic Names

Greenwood Presbyterian Cemetery, Charles Mix, South Dakota, United States, NA [42.93178,-98.37897] [id:11388939]