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Becky Wright presents “Civil War Quilts” on Dover Sunday

By Virginia Ekstrand

Oct. 30, 2025 7:48 pm

Dover program director, Darlene Lutes, introduces Becky Wright to the audience. The program was enhanced by use of a new microphone system. Everyone heard every word clearly.
Dover program director, Darlene Lutes, introduces Becky Wright to the audience. The program was enhanced by use of a new microphone system. Everyone heard every word clearly.
Reproduction quilt made by Becky shows her determination to be as accurate as possible. When she presented the original quilt to the museum where it now resides, the director there asked her which quilt was the original. What a fantastic compliment!
Reproduction quilt made by Becky shows her determination to be as accurate as possible. When she presented the original quilt to the museum where it now resides, the director there asked her which quilt was the original. What a fantastic compliment!
Becky Wright with a baby quilt from the Civil War Era. It is in very good condition and probably not used much for one reason or another.
Becky Wright with a baby quilt from the Civil War Era. It is in very good condition and probably not used much for one reason or another.
The audience was a pleasing size and very interested in quilts and textiles. Becky's resume is extensive and includes the history of the textile industry. The production of cotton by slaves became part of the abolitionist's opposition to slavery.
The audience was a pleasing size and very interested in quilts and textiles. Becky's resume is extensive and includes the history of the textile industry. The production of cotton by slaves became part of the abolitionist's opposition to slavery.
Becky had examples of appliqued quilts from the Civil War era. They provided another outlook on quilting.
Becky had examples of appliqued quilts from the Civil War era. They provided another outlook on quilting.

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

The last Sunday in October, Dover Museum held its last program of the 2025 season. A marvelous presentation on Civil War quilts was presented by Becky Wright. All the quilts shown and described are owned by Becky. Her program also included interesting stories of how her interest in material, sewing and quilting began. She also shared her knowledge in quilt patterns and fabric patterns used at various times.

Sitting on her grandmother’s lap and guiding material under the needle while her grandmother pumped the treadle of a Singer sewing machine. Becky’s passion for fabric was sealed at this young age and she has pursued it relentlessly.

It was interesting to learn her grandmother only used one pattern to make her dresses and aprons. She mixed and matched the clothes. She did not wear them as matching sets.

Becky spoke constantly of her signature color for Civil War quilts — poison green. Colors and mordants (chemicals used to preserve colors) were under constant development. Poison green is just that — it is an arsenic based dye discovered by Carl Scheele. Scheele was a Swedish chemist and he created the dye in 1775. This dye was used in clothing, wallpaper and paints. It was banned many years later as the cause of premature death of many citizens. Scheele himself died at age 41 of arsenic poisoning. Becky assured her assistants that the “poison green” in her quilts had stabilized and was no danger to them.

Becky’s collection also held quilts of local historic interest. One beautiful, interesting quilt which originally belonged to Kay Young. The Civil War quilt came with a family genealogical history. Another quilt belonged to Ethan Allen, founder of Vermont. The last quilt displayed was made by a Civil War veteran severely wounded. He made the quilt during his slow years of recovery. Becky worked hard making a replica of his quilt. The original quilt has now been returned to the Stones Creek battlefield.

The story behind “Quilts of Love and Valor” reveals Becky’s creativity and innovation. She gave the audience a glimpse of the way she develops ideas for original quilt designs. She read a book “Love and Valor.” The book collated the letters written between home and battlefield. Fascinated by the themes in the letters, she obtained permission to design quilts related to war as described by these participants. Her book highlights a Civil War Love story and her key to reproduction quilts and maintaining authenticity.

The afternoon ended with lively discussion and many questions. Becky’s presentation was a wonderful way to close the 2025 museum visiting season.
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