The Famous Sears Roebuck Quilt Contest

I first learned of the famous Sears, Roebuck Quilt Competition in Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek novels about quiltmakers.  Since then, I’ve come across references frequently.  Or perhaps since I know know about the contest, my attention is alerted.

This very popular contest in 1933 had a $1,000 prize with an additional $200 if the quilt had a Century of Progress theme.  (The quilt competition was conducted in honor of the Chicago Century of Progress Fairor Exposition.)

In additon to the monetary prize, the winning quilt held the honor of being given to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Sears placed a small, 2 x 3-inch notice, in it’s catalog for January of that year about the quilt competition.  Close to 25,000 entries were received by May 15!

Barbara Brackman and Merikay Waldvogel have researched and written about this event and the quilts involved.

 Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World’s Fair/the Sears National Quilt Contest and Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition

You’ll also find information on these quilts in Twentieth Century Quilts, 1900-1950 by Thomas K. Woodard and Blanche Greenstein.

Twentieth Century Quilts 1900-1950