Rare Civil War quilt found in Texas has a mysterious story

Katherine J. Adams Quilt Curator (right) at the Briscoe Center for American History The University of Texas at Austin and Deborah Burkett (left). Katherine J. Adams Quilt Curator (right) at the Briscoe Center for American History The University of Texas at Austin and Deborah Burkett (left). Photo: Provided By Deborah Burkett Photo: Provided By Deborah Burkett Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Rare Civil War quilt found in Texas has a mysterious story 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

A quilt dating back to the 1860s has been uncovered in a library in the small Texas town of Alto.

The valuable Civil War artifact was first spotted four years ago but it has taken until now for specialists studying the intricate patterns to figure out where it came from.

The quilt is made up of silks and taffetas – precious fabrics highly sought after at the time it was made and now.

"(When I first saw it) I stopped in my tracks ... immediately I knew it was special," said Deborah Burkett who discovered the quilt hanging on the wall in the library in Alto in 2010. "Clearly you can tell it's old ... the silks and satins are beautiful ... it is excellent quilting."

Despite it's obvious value, the origin of the quilt remained a mystery until earlier this year when librarians at Alto's Stellar Hill Memorial Library turned up a file containing the name of the family that donated it.

The document proved the quilt was so unique it has now been donated to the Ima Hogg quilt collection at the University of Texas' Briscoe Center, where urgent preservation work is being completed. The hope is that one day the ancient embroidery might go on public display.

"Because of the quilt's condition, which is quite fragile, I am keeping it carefully tissued and boxed," said Katherine Adams, quilt curator at the Briscoe Center, via email, "Unfortunately, silks of this era shatter easily, a condition that is progressive and cannot be stopped."

The quilt was sewn by Mary Perry, a Louisiana quilter who was born in 1845. Perry sewed it and all its intricate embroidery patterns when she was just 15 years old.

"It's amazing that it's lasted," said Perry's great granddaughter, Mary Decker, who was involved in the donation of the quilt to the Briscoe Center.

Decker says the money put into the creation of the quilt illustrates just what a wealthy area the South was at the time. Cryptic symbols included in the design also allude to events taking place during the Civil War.

"It shows an American flag overlying the flag of the republic," Decker said. "It sounds as though her family was a unionist family. Her father was from Maryland which never seceded."

At the Briscoe center experts are also studying the pattern, piecing together its history and tracing the skills of Mary Perry.

"In addition to her beautiful hand piecing, Mary hand embroidered motifs, including flowers, leaves, crossed flags, an anchor, acorns, etc. appear on many of the hexagons," said quilt curator Katherine Adams.

A valuation of the quilt made when it was removed from the library is being kept secret. According to the finder, Deborah Burkett, the family does not want to reveal it, although it is known to be in the thousands.

A decision on whether the quilt will go on show will be made later in the new year, according to the Briscoe Center. Photographs of it will be included in at least two books; one by Adams about the center's Windale Quilt Collection and one by Burkett which includes details of other valuable quilts she has found over the years.