Photos from the 1st Annual Quilt Study Day

The 1st Annual Quilt Study Day was a success! About 60 quilts were registered representing quilts made in or brought to Elkhart County from 1890 to 2009. The quilts were documented and photographed for a registry to be held at the museum for researchers. Each year the museum hopes to expand its registry so quilts and their stories can be preserved and enjoyed by future generations. Most participants stayed the entire afternoon to observe the incredible variety of examples brought for registration. If you enjoy quilts, especially old quilts, do not miss this exciting event in 2010!

Here are some of the highlights!


Yo-Yo, c. 1960s. Elkhart County Home resident Ruth Bussler made this yo-yo from scraps. Registered by Mary Jane Hiles, Elkhart.

Red-White-Blue Crystal Star Amish Quilt, c. 1947. Made by Susie Schrock Helmuth Schlabaugh for her husband Joseph Helmuth who enlisted in the army during WWII. The quilt is unique because patriotic themes are rare in Amish-made quilts. Registered by Carol Honderich.

Stars and Bars, c. 1910. Made by Sarah Margaret Keller who purchased instrument case lining from C.G. Conn, a brass instrument manufacturing company that was located in Elkhart. Registered by Gail Enas.

Earn a Badge at the Museum!

Wanted for 7th Annual Authors and Artists Day

Bristol, IN – The Elkhart County Historical Museum is inviting local authors, artists, and fine crafters to take part in the 7th Annual Authors and Artists Day to be held on Sunday, March 15th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event is designed for the public to meet our local authors, artists and fine crafters as they demonstrate and sell their latest works. Also featured are museum tours, an Elkhart County Genealogical Society open house, children’s activities, and refreshments.

Media considered for entry includes, but is not limited to, painting, jewelry, drawing, photography, glass, sculpture, fine crafts, and publications. Please note that only original handmade work of the entrant will be considered. The Elkhart County Historical Museum will provide a 6’ x 10’ space in the auditorium with one eight-foot table and chairs available without charge.

Applications are obtainable by calling 574-848-4322. Space is limited so please apply early. The deadline for registration is February 28th.

Reserve your spot on trip to the ACPL!

Learn how to Become a “House Detective”

Elkhart County Historical Museum Director Nick Hoffman will present a workshop about Researching Your Home on Thursday, January 15 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m at the County Museum. The program will focus on researching homes built during the 1830s to mid 20th Century, as well as supporting structures such as barns, tool sheds or outhouses. Information will be relevant for individuals researching both rural and urban properties.

Participants will learn about the tools historians use to uncover the histories of a property and where such resources are held locally. Among the topics to be covered include city directories, tax records, deeds, building permits, maps, census records, trade catalogs, newspapers, photographs, and some uncommonly used materials. Particular emphasis will present ideas on how to construct a social history of a property by trying to uncover aspects of the daily lives of former residents.

“Good research requires plenty of hard work and dedication to trace every lead in your findings,” says Hoffman. “This program will offer starting points for new researchers, but also hopefully provide new trails for home detectives who have reached a wall in their project.”

Pre-registration is preferred for this program by calling 574-848-4322 or emailing Nick Hoffman at nick@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Museum to Document Local Quilts

The Elkhart County Historical Museum will host a Quilt Study Day on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The program is aimed to document and preserve the history of regional quilts into a register to be held at the museum for researchers.

Many quilts appear in shows throughout the year in Elkhart County and afterwards most disappear from the public and remain undocumented as to their local provenance. The museum will begin recording these quilts during a quilt study day to assemble a growing encyclopedia of locally made or owned quilts.

“We hope to create a document that illustrates changes in quilting trends or regionalisms that are particular to Elkhart County,” says Museum Director Nick Hoffman. “Anyone interested in the history of textiles and quilting, or contemporary quilters who want to replicate an early quilt, will find the register incredibly useful.”

Several viewing stations will be created for participants to have their quilts inspected in a public or private review. Then skilled quilt historians and museum staff will help trace the history of the participating quilts. Each bed cover will then be photographed and notes regarding fabrics, provenance, and a broad history will be recorded for each object. Museum staff will also offer recommendations to store or display your bedcover in a safe manner for ideal preservation.

The finished register will be available in the museum’s library for researchers. Participants have the option to keep their names anonymous with the quilt in the published version of the register. The museum hopes to make this program an annual event to create a master listing of patterns, fabrics, and other relevant information related to our region.

Participants are encouraged to stay for the event to witness the vast array of local quilt patterns. The program will conclude with a quilt show and tell featuring privately owned local quilts and recent acquisitions into the Elkhart County Historical Society’s collection.

Pre-registration is required for this program by calling 574-848-4322 or emailing Nick Hoffman at nick@elkhartcountyparks.org. Participants will be arranged into several timeslots for their quilt documentation session.