The Quilt

Charles H. Smith [1919]

Submitted by: Nancy Brown, Chapter Chairman, SW MO Chapter American Red Cross

A bed quilt, in startling vividness, is the outstanding feature in the history of the Red Cross campaign of 1918, in the Southwest Missouri District. A unique quilt of quality, but for all time a quilt with a record.

In itself, beautifully emblematic, it would instantly attract attention, but in the hands of B.F. Boland of Carthage, it acquired a history that makes it, probably, the most valuable quilt that was ever made. Thousands of dollars have been paid for it, yet it remains in the hands of the one who made it.

This is the first time that the true history of that Red Cross quilt was ever made public.

For long years Mrs. B.F. Boland was a "shut-in" from illness. Wishing to take an active part in the Red Cross work when the world war was raging, yet unable to leave her home, she designed and pieced this quilt. No one, other than Mr. Boland, knew of this strenuous work of his invalid wife.

Little by little, day by day, the quilt grew. Sometimes, for days, Mrs. Boland was too sick to work on it; but its destined purpose was ever in her mind. Suffering though she might be, she was ever designing plans for its completeness. At all times it was a suggestive incentive for her to arise and work on it.

No one outside the Boland home will ever know the anxious moments of that faithful woman. When too sick to work, she was troubled; not because of her illness, but because she could not carry forward her contemplated contribution to the Red campaign. Of her services, it was all she could give. At times, against the advice of friends, she labored and smiled, when another might have given up and gone to a sick bed.

Finished at last! Think of the joy of that invalid woman! Her hopes and aspirations were realized. Her gift to the Red Cross was now ready to take its active part in the campaign to raise money for the welfare of the boys in the Army.

Happily, no ill results followed to her. In truth, it is said, she derived so much pleasure from the success of its sales, that it was an invigorating stimulant to her, in her lonely hours, while her husband was abroad selling it.

TYPICALLY A RED CROSS QUILT

Made exclusively for the Red Cross, it is typical of its purpose; impressively emblematic in design. Pieced in various colors of silk, all harmoniously combined to give the most artistic effect, it is a rare exhibition of exquisite needle-work. But it has a striking feature - "Old Glory", in all its revered colors, blazes out from the center of the quilt. From the four sides of the flag radiate red blocks, thus forming a Red Cross as the background on which rests this starry flag. From the corners of that flag the blocks reach out, representing every unit of the Jasper County Red Cross.

Stop here - get that picture fixed in the mind's eye. See our country's flag, representing everything that every true American holds dear - its splendor of red, white and blue, sacred to the mind of every loyal son and daughter of our glorious Republic. Then note that those colors, by suggestive lines, are linked to the representation of working units of the Red Cross - those noble units of faithful women, industriously and unselfishly giving of their time, their strength, their best endeavor, for our boys in olive drab, for our country's honor, for the glory of the flag.

A noble design; and a noble design can originate only within a noble mind.

Can any words of praise be framed that will convey to such a mind a sense of true appreciation? Language has such narrow limitations when thought would leave material things; genuine emotion cannot be expressed in words.

Into that quilt Mrs. Boland had worked her own devoted patriotism. It is a quilt with a soul. Back of all its beauty in the foreground, is the devoted soul of a true American woman.

MAKER'S TRUE IDENTITY CONCEALED

A legend is told of a young Greek maiden, whose modesty forbade her to enter into a competition with male sculptors, and who timidly concealed herself within the shadowy curtains back of her own beautiful creation in marble. So pleased was Athene with this display of modesty, so runs the story, that she endowed with life the god represented in marble, and gave him to the maiden for her husband.

Like unto the Greek maiden, Mrs. Boland was concealed as the originator of the Red Cross quilt. In all his campaigns, not inkling did Mr. Boland give of its maker.

"It was pieced by a woman, a shut-in from illness, from whom I bought it for $10.00; she wished to pay her church dues". That was all the public was told. Not an untruth - yet, how much it lacked of being the whole truth.

B.F. BOLAND MAKES IT FAMOUS

Making an inanimate object an active entity requires a master mind.

Without the generous gift of versatility, combined with the highest talents of skilled salesmanship, the now famous Red Cross quilt might have remained no more than a beautiful quilt.

At the head of his profession as an auctioneer, B.F. Boland was specially fitted for carrying that Red Cross quilt into the campaign, and with a forecast assurance of success.

A true American, with every drop of his red blood aflame with patriotism, with an enthusiasm that spread as a contagion throughout his vast audiences when he was conducting a sale, B.F. Boland was the man for the occasion. The best that was within him called aloud, and the best that was within his hearers answered.

The bed quilt made Jasper County Red Cross units famous, but it was B.F. Boland that made this bed quilt famous. Untiringly he cried its sales. Not a place was too distant; not a day too dark and dreary; not a highway too rough or muddy. B.F. Boland was the personification of Red Cross endeavor.

While this quilt was the outstanding feature of all his sales, he sold, also, everything else that Ws contributed to the Red Cross Service. Jasper County farmers are remarkably generous givers in patriotic work. Cattle, horses, mules, hogs, goats, sheep, calves, even rabbits, chickens, home canned goods - of everything the farmers had, a part was given to the Red Cross. These Mr. Boland sold, and munificient were the prices paid for them - buyers cheerily returning their purchases to be sold again and again.

QUILT BRINGS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

But it was the growing fame of the Red Cross quilt that made it the great objective of all purchasers. B.F. Boland was making its fame. It became a distinction to buy it, and return it again for another sale. At times it was bought back for a mere pittance. Men and women vied for the honor of purchasing it, only to possess it for a few moments. Among the most notable of these sales in townships right near his home were the following:

Edward Joy sale	$  220.00
A. Kellkiller sale	243.00
John Schooler sale	247.00
J.P. Johnson sale	276.00
The Lucas sale	300.00
W.R. Crother sale	300.00
The Hunter sale	450.00
Miller, MO., Red Cross sale	900.00
Madsion Township Red Cross sale	1389.00
Dudenville, MO., Red Cross sale	1500.00

Almost $6,000 in a few townships alone. Between thirty and forty thousand dollars is considered a very conservative estimate of the amount raised for the Red Cross from the sale of this quilt.

KEEPS INTEREST FROM LAGGING

Note the growing popularity of the now famous Red Cross quilt. From a few hundred dollars, its value climbs quickly into thousands. The crowning event for quick results was at the Dudenville sale, where ninety men and women each gave $10.00 to start the sale, which ended with $1500.00.

Interest was kept at fever heat throughout every sale conducted by Mr. Boland. If his crowd showed signs of listlessness, and bidding began to lag, he awakened it into activity by calling on someone to catch a chicken running near by, or a pig, or anything else that caught his eye. This he would laughingly auction off for the Red Cross fund. These forced sales, made solely to keep alive the interest, frequently netted big returns for the Red Cross fund.

At every auction sale he conducted, not an opportunity did Mr. Boland let pass to make a short talk for the Red Cross. His services as an auctioneer are in wide demand, and he cried sales during the war all over his own and many other states. At every one he followed up his five minute Red Cross talk with a sale of something from which a Red Cross contribution was obtained. On one occasion some yarn brought the fabulous sum of $889.90, on another a calf sold for $500.00.

NOW A FAMILY SOUVENIR

Athene returned the Greek maiden's creation a living creature. B.F. Boland returned his wife's creation the most famous souvenir of the Red Cross campaign in Southwest Missouri. In recognition of his invaluable services a Red Cross Certificate and Service Button were sent to Mr. Boland from Headquarters and the Red Cross units, to whom he had finally given the quilt, when the armistice was signed, presented the quilt to Mr. And Mrs. Boland. It has been exhibited at fairs, and other public places where large crowds assembled, and was ever an object of greatest interest, if not veneration. At this writing it can be seen at the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Boland, 2021 South Garrison Avenue, Carthage, Missouri.

Such is the true history of the famous Red Cross quilt of Southwest Missouri. The quilt itself will likely remain a sacred relic in the Boland family, descending unto distant generations, but when the Scroll of Honor is unrolled, in emblazoned letters will be found the names of Benjamin Franklin Boland, and his devoted and patriotic wife, Dora May Boland.

 

Last updated Saturday, February 08, 2003 by Renessa Wiggins.
With many thanks to Kathy Sidenstricker for sending this article.

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