On Friday morning, September 15, 1978, a group of women met in the McKinney House dining room to form a quilting circle. Most of these La Mesa Historical Society (LMHS) members did not know how to quilt. They utilized each other's strengths and learned the art of quilting bedding and clothes, producing around one hundred quilts for over two decades. Over the course of the group’s existence, their fundraising efforts supported most of the McKinney House renovations during the first two decades of the La Mesa Historical Society.

On Friday morning, September 15, 1978, a group of women met in the McKinney House dining room to form a quilting circle. Present were Gail Chance (who served as temporary Chairman), Gladys Cherry (Recorder), Mildred Bryon, Margaret Pearson, Thelma Todd, Pat Kettler, and Woody Linke. This club began with the objective of fundraising for renovations of the historic McKinney House. Twelve ladies began meeting on Monday mornings (around 10 a.m.) at Gail Chance’s house. Most of these La Mesa Historical Society (LMHS) members did not know how to quilt. They utilized each other's strengths and learned the art of quilting bedding and clothes, producing around one hundred quilts for over two decades. The LMHS Quilters began their fundraising adventures by restoring a quilt donated by Ruth McKinney. In 1920, Ruth married Joyce McKinney, the middle son of Rev. Henry A. McKinney. Nadine Washburn donated a quilt to the group to complete for the July 1, 1979, Ice Cream Social Raffle, the first of many events for the Quilters group. The 1979 Ice Cream Social Quilters table fundraised over $800 from quilting sales. Every Ice Cream Social Raffle after 1979 earned hundreds of dollars from the Quilters sales for the Society. Smaller projects, Christmas decorations, aprons, pot holders, etc. (all made in a quilted style) were additional fundraising materials this growing membership created. After Gail Chance resigned as Chairman on February 12, 1980, due to illness, the Quilters group resumed quilting baby quilts and donated tops on March 3, 1980. The new co-chairman, Julie Bras and Nadine Washburn (assisted by Mildred Bryan), met with the seven other women at Thelma Todd’s home every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Mr. Swearengin made a big quilting frame for the quilters to work on the glassed-in front porch of Thelma’s historic home. Four women worked on each side of the frame while others worked beside the frame to sew baby quilts. In October 1980, some of the LMHS Quilters' quilts were exhibited at a quilt show at the San Diego Historical Society’s Villa Montezuma Museum. Since the group began two years ago, it has participated in two sales at Grossmont Center, one downtown La Mesa sale, two Christmas sales at the McKinney Open House, and three Ice Cream Socials, fundraising a total of over a thousand dollars to the renovations of the McKinney estate. In March 1984, after some McKinney house renovations were finished, the Quilters centralized their activities at the McKinney House’s upstairs east bedroom. By this time, the Quilters had acquired more quilting expertise and opened their quilting services for a fee. The group's members were Beatrice Acers, Ethel Allen, Julie Bras, Mildred Bryan, Margaret Pearson, and Nadine Washburn. When their teaching work permitted, Barbara Copeland and Carol Lockwood joined the group. By October 1985, the Quilters had gained five more members. The meetings, in turn, expanded from Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to all-day sessions at the McKinney House. In December 1985 (directed by Beatrice Acers), the LMHS Quilters exhibited more than 20 quilts ranging from the 1870s to 1985 at the LMHS Christmas Open House. The Quilters were well represented at the prestigious San Diego Quilt Show at the Masonic Temple in Mission Valley in September 1987. They exhibited two large quilts and one baby quilt. By November 1987, the Quilters group continued to grow to a total of 16 members. After the Thelma Palermo Building Research Room completed construction behind the McKinney House, the Quilters' meetings transferred to the Palermo Building’s all-purpose workroom to accommodate the size of members quilting on Wednesday mornings (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.). The highest point in membership was 18 Quilters during the early 1990s. Their members were: Nadine Washburn, Ethel Allen, Julia Bras, Bettie Burns, Eleanor Doerr, Judy Howard, Eleanor Meyer, Jean Ohmsteade, Marie Parkhurst, Margaret Pearson, Jerry Schatz, June Skalecky, Marie Taylor, LaVelle Vaughn, Irma Wiley, Beatrice Acers, and newcomers Libby Falter and Elaine McAlpin. Not everyone visited every week. The Quilters agreed to holidays off, and some women would arrive at 9 a.m., but most trailed in at 10 a.m. The Quilters began meeting less frequently around the late 1990s and essentially ceased operations in the early 2000s. Over the course of the group’s existence, their fundraising efforts supported most of the McKinney House renovations during the first two decades of the La Mesa Historical Society. The Thelma Palermo building is now the home of the Archival Research Room.

[Extent]1.8 __[Unit]CF __[Note]One record carton and one newspaper box.

This collection is protected by the La Mesa History Center copyright. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the La Mesa History Center.

The collection is open for research. Contact the La Mesa History Center for more details.