March 31, 2006	Contact:	Patricia Cosgrove, Museum Director
For Immediate Release		(253) 288-7437

WRAPPED IN COMFORT:
DEPRESSION ERA QUILTS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

New Exhibit
With the economic hardships of the Depression, the 1930s represented an era greatly in need of comfort. So it seems that quilts of this era, often made from flour sacks and scraps, evoke in us a sense of caring and home. Over 40 beautiful depression era quilts are featured in the White River Valley Museum’s second bi-annual antique quilt display opening May 9 through August 20.

Local teacher, quilter and storyteller Anita Sheneberger is the guest curator, selecting the very best regionally owned quilts made in the 1930s. Although many of the quilts featured are made from scraps, this was a “quilt revival” period. Many magazines and newspapers offered free quilt patterns and one of the largest quilt contests in United States history was sponsored by Sears Roebuck & Company as part of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Despite the hard times of the depression, the quilts of this period are cheerful, optimistic and colorful, as women turned to quilting as a creative outlet, in addition to a practical necessity to keep their families warm.

PROGRAMS
May 13: Story Telling Performance, At My Grandmother’s Knee, Quilting Tales performed by Anita Sheneberger
2 – 3:30 PM

June 10: Film, Women’s Work: Making Quilts - Creating Art
Two showings: 12 noon and 2 PM

June 16 – August 25th: Books Bring History Alive, pre-school reading and craft
FRIDAYS from 11:30 AM to 12 noon

June 17: Quilting Demo, Waste Not Want Not, The Evergreen Piecemakers Quilt Guild creates scrap quilts for local charities
12 noon – 4 PM

Wrapped in Comfort is generously sponsored by the Calico Cat and Bernina Too!, the Covington Quilt Guild, and the Wild Rose Quilt Shop and Retreat. The White River Valley Museum is an award-winning museum, located in the Auburn Community Campus at Les Gove Park, at 918 H Street SE. Hours are 12 Noon, to 4 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays, and by appointment for group tours and research. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children and seniors. Wednesdays are free for everyone. For more information call (253) 288-7433 or look us up on the web at www.wrvmuseum.org.


The White River Valley Museum is located in the Auburn Community Campus at Les Gove Park, at 918 H Street SE. Hours are 12 Noon, to 4 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays, and by appointment for group tours and research. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children and seniors. Wednesdays are free for everyone. For more information call (253) 288-7433 or look us up on the web at www.wrvmuseum.org.

For more information call (253) 288-7433