This "Baceball" quilt is a friendship quilt likely a fund-raising quilt for a woman's baseball team. There are 90 names on each hexagonal piece, which is embroidered with the name, date, location, and baseball position of each person. Multi-colored calico prints and solids, probably from feed sack fabric, make up the quilt with white muslin for the hexagons.

The women came from Nebraska, California, Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Research on the quilt has lead to believe that this belonged to or made by one of two Iwanski daughters. The family looks to have been connected to Nebraska as many Czech, Slavic or Bohemian nationalities made up much of the populations immigrant makeup during the 1900's.

The words "Ketten Ball" appear on the quilt, which could be Germanic or Slavic based slang for lady or woman. Much is still unknown about the origin of the quilt.

Techniques: Hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidered
Culture: American
Geographic Location: North and Central America - United States
Credit Line: Museum purchase