When I started out to study the work, the writings, and the life of Mrs. Ellen Webster, born in Hebron, NH and who lived in Franklin, NH, for most of her life, I did not think that I would run into so much misinformation about her (from several sources). I came to first know of Mrs. Webster, in 1993 or 1994, when I spent 1 1/2 years studying and recording information about the quilts in the New Hampshire Historical Society, as a volunteer.
My goal, and that of my assistant and friend, the late Virginia Stevens, was to compile all known information about the 63 quilts, then in their possession, and create and turn over a more complete record for the use of the curatorial staff. We visited the quilts, once a week, for about half a day, also noting their condition, measuring each quilt, and making notes on previously data about them that was not recorded previously. While we were working one day, someone at the museum, perhaps a curator, showed us one of the quilt charts and asked if we had ever seen anything like it. I hadn’t, and neither had Ginnie.
Fast forward to 2008 when I asked if I could view and study the charts for an article for The Quilter magazine. That was, indeed, published in September 2008, with 12 images of the quilt charts.
I had not “perused” the quilt charts, but studied them intently. I had written down all of the notations on them, previously not transcribed or studied. Many of Ellen’s notes revealed knowledge of the work of other quilt historians and designers of her day, notably, Marie Webster, Ruth Finley, Ruby McKim and others. I was thrilled to see a photo of their books, taken by Ellen’s brother-in-law, a professional photographer in Franklin, and intended for a Christmas card. The photo image includes a “surprise” that I am sure those who purchase the CD will enjoy.
Yes, I had been hard at work, uncovering tons of valuable historical information and making personal connections with those individuals who had either known Ellen, personally, or knew of her, including her great nephew. His help was invaluable and he even had a ready answer for me when I asked why some of Ellen’s quilt charts had been trimmed, an answer that he had read in one of her diaries (I was able to read her diaries for myself, later).
There are 162 charts, but many more designs as sometimes there are multiple images on a “chart,” and occasionally, drawings of how to quilt the final quilted object. There are 238 images from the quilt charts in our e-book, photos taken by my husband, Jim, who took additional photos to equal 340 images, in all, in this 355 page book.
Mrs. Webster traveled all over the world, but the quilts she saw from other places, like Illinois or Virginia, were actually seen in New England at a show she judged at Storrowton/Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA.
I guess that no one really cares about getting the details right, except me! There has been NOTHING in print, so far, including “scholarly abstracts,” that were not severely-flawed. I was unaware of the extent of misinformation “out there,” when I was doing my 8 month long, intense, 12-14 hrs. per day, seven days per week, research project and compiling it into an e-book. Yet, wrong facts continue to exist, one annoying one being that Ellen was called “Emily,” and her middle name misspelled as “Emiline,” when it should have been “Emeline.”
Ellen’s name was never Emily, not even as a nickname, and that fact has been verified. I have supplied ample proof of Ellen’s name, in both my e-book, and in my online articles. The International Quilt Study Center website, http://www.quiltstudy.org/education_research/symposium.html, has featured incorrect information about Ellen’s name since 2007. The reason they keep the name “Emily”? I was told that the “committee” had “vetted” the seminar paper presented there. They felt the information was correct, as it came from a former curator of the museum which holds the charts. This wrong information has to have been an embarrassment to those concerned. Yet, History consists of the facts, and Ellen’s name will continue to be “Ellen,” no matter how many times someone says it is not. Since my e-book was published, information on the abstract has been changed a few times, and some other correct facts have been added, but last I knew, the name “Emily” continued to be the one presented.
Yet, all of those silly and inaccurate errors by this “other party,” who shall remain nameless here, cannot diminish the quality and quantity of Ellen Webster’s work, nor my own. Today, I looked through the e-book again. I am so grateful to everyone who provided tidbits of information, or a photo, or other items, enabling me to create this wonderful composite of knowledge about an extraordinary woman who lived from 1867-1950. I suppose it matters not what size the charts were (yes, even that has been misstated, too, in print). What does matter is that Ellen spent countless hours to “save” quilt designs, by re-creating them with pieces of cloth from a scrap bag, OR pieces of wallpaper, OR paints.
The e-book has generated a lot of interest among quilt historians who have been broadminded enough to give anyone else credit. However, the appeal of the book is not just for quilters or historians. The general public and even family members who generally have no interest in either quilts or quilt history, have found the e-book to be riveting!
Sorry to hurt the feelings of anyone who attempted to write about Mrs. Webster, or give talks about her, in the past. Hopefully, historians will continue to expand on known information and in time, the truth will matter more than personal animosities against those who discover previous errors.
Many thanks to the Concord Monitor‘s Arts Editor, Sarah Earle, who tried to explain Mrs. Webster, her work, and my e-book, in today’s newspaper of March 5, 2009. I have to hang on to the idea that no publicity is bad publicity, but in truth, I am a little disappointed that some of the details provided did not coincide with what I had written in the e-book. However, I do understand deadlines, and the inability of a writer to read such a lengthy book about an unfamiliar subject that requires study, and then, make sense of it all and try to condense the information, at the same time.
I can only suggest that interested parties obtain a copy of the e-book so that all will become abundantly more clear. Copies of the CD are available either from the NH Historical Society store, or from Quilter’s Muse Publications.
Special Feature on Our Website (about Mrs. Webster)
A true scholar seeks knowledge and the truth and is always happy to be corrected.
Patricia Cummings, author of Ellen Emeline Hardy Webster (1867-1950): Her Amazing Quilt “Charts,” Her Writings, and Her Life; photos and photo edits by James Cummings
