Rosa von der Lieth quilt

The richly colored quilt created to fund the Emanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia. Beginning some months before February 1898, the quilt was created by the women of the local Episcopal Communion. The ladies asked for contributions to the quilt and also sent muslin and calico strips of cloth to famous figures at the time to get their signature. The result was a red quilt with 42 stars and 30 white wheels with signatures emblazoned upon their spokes. These signatures include President William McKinley and his wife, Theodore Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, Admiral George Dewey, and other presidential candidates, admirals, generals, captains, bishops, regiments, countries, counties, and family members. Those who autographs appear in the stars paid 25 cents and those in the spokes of the wheels just 10 cents. The quilt was designed and made by Miss Rosa A. von der Lieth a noted business woman in Athens, Georgia. Miss von der Lieth ran a well known notions, embrodiery, and confections. Upon her death in 1925 at 75 years of age, the quilt was bequeathed to her younger sister, Mrs. Emma von der Lieth Davis. Mrs. Davis passed in 1929 and the quilt was given to her eldest daughter Mrs. Mamie Davis Crane, who died in an automobile accident in 1959. The quilt was not recovered until 1963 by Mrs. Frank Kempton. A full history of the quilt was given to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution in November 1963.