Name/Title
QuiltEntry/Object ID
2024.27Description
Handmade quilt with flower design and pink backing. Large knots made of thread are spread across the quilt, to keep the back and front in place, and the flowers are made up other patterned fabrics.Textile Type
QuiltUse
Quilt was made by donor's mother, Ida Pearson.Context
"My Paternal Grandmother was Ida Carolina Aronsson (Larson) Pearson.* She was the sixth of eleven children born to Aron Alfred Larsson and Clara Sofia Edvardsdotter. Ida was born on November 11, 1877 in Bjorkhult, St. Farsbo (a place in Oestergoetland Region, 128 miles from Stockholm, 24 miles from Ulrika). As often happened in those days, four of her siblings died before they were thirteen years old. Of the remaining children, six eventually came to the United States. The first to arrive was Anna Aronsdotter in 1889. Two, including Ida, ended up in Galesburg, Illinois, one in Altona, Illinois, two in Chicago, and one more (Fritz) came to North America, but where he settled is not know for sure. However, I remember my father talking about Uncle Fritz, so he probably lived in Galesburg also, or Chicago. Ida received her "Hon tog ut flyttningsbetyg," or "Moving Certificate;' April 18, 1898. Apparently when Swedish citizens wished to leave the country, they had to obtain this permission from the local parish. lda sailed from Gothenburg, Sweden, on August 6, 1898, bound for New York. She was 20 years old. Ida arrived at Ellis Island. Her record on the Ellis Island website shows that her last residence was Ulrika, Sweden. Ulrika is a locality situated in Linkoping Municipality, Ostergotland County, Sweden. In 2010 Ulrika's population was listed as 200 people. The village is quite isolated in a landscape dominated by forest. Ida spent some time in New York. I remember her daughter, Signe, saying that Ida worked there as a maid for a time, and also when she first came to Galesburg, Illinois. When she moved to Galesburg is unknown, although she was there when her first child was born in 1904. She possibly moved to Galesburg because two older sisters had already settled in that area. Ida married Gottfreyd Pearson (aka Fred, who I was named after) June 11, 1904 in Knoxville, Illinois. Ida was 25 years old and Fred was 24. Fred had been born in lkavic, Sweden, June 3, 1882 according to the Marriage Certificate.
Ida and Fred had four children: Paul (1904-1907); Howard (My father, 1908-1984); Signe (1906-1964); Gordon; Carl (1918-2001). All four children were born in Galesburg, Illinois. Sometime after Carl was born, the family moved to Chicago. The date and reason for the move is unknown, although at least two of Ida's siblings lived there. The Pearsons lived at 8840 S. Hermitage Avenue. As of this writing, the house still stands. Fred died on June 27, 1952 (70 years old); Ida passed away on June 19,1962 (84 years old). *One last story. When Ida came to America in 1898, three of her siblings were already here. They told 1aa to inform everyone her last name was Larson so people would not think she was Jewish. This story is attributed to a cousin from Sweden who traced and visited my Uncles Gordon and Carl when she visited the United States."Acquisition
Accession
2024.27Source or Donor
Frederick PearsonAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Ida PearsonRole
ArtistTime Period
20th CenturyLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Quilting, Quilts, TextilesSearch Terms
Illinois--Chicago, Illinois--Galesburg, Sweden--Östergötlands län, Women artistsMaterial
Cloth and yarn, Fabric, ThreadReproductions
Notes
Reproduction of the Museum's artifacts for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires written permission.
