Interview with Anita Murphy, October 22, 1999

Partial Transcript: I'm here today interviewing Anita Murphy.

Segment Synopsis: The first quilts discussed are those of Dr. Ruth Hartgraves. Her mother pieced quilts. Some of Hartgraves' other mementos accompany the quilt, including photos of her mother and grandmother.

Keywords: Doctors; Dr. Ruth Hartgraves; Estates; Fabrics; Families; Historic quilts; Nuns; Piecing; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Sashing; Statue of Liberty Contest; Stitching; Teaching; Techniques; Textiles; Traditional quilts; University of Texas

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Dr. Hartgraves has been highly honored by the University of Texas. And she said, "They weren't smart enough to ask me for my quilts, Anita."

Segment Synopsis: Murphy was given Dr. Hartgraves' quilts after many of her belongings had been donated to the University of Texas, by which she was highly honored in the medical field.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Estate planning; Fabrics; Historic quilts; Medical practices; Quilt museums; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Statue of Liberty contest; Textiles; Traditional quilts; Travelers; University of Texas

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So, uh, uh, one time, she and Sister Lucy, my two aunts who were called 'the girls.' One of them is the one who taught me how to quilt.

Segment Synopsis: One of Murphy's aunts taught her how to quilt. Her husband would drive her aunts and Dr. Hartgraves around Houston often. Dr. Hartgraves learned to quilt from her grandmother, though she said that her stitching was bad.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Doctors; Fabrics; Grandmothers; Hand quilting; Historic quilts; Nuns; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Teaching; Techniques; Textiles; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Um, she said her mother, uh, was a gracious, gracious southern lady.

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Hartgraves' mother quilted when it was in fashion, then became bored with it and hired someone to finish. The quilt was sasheen, which acted as a protective measure against a man's beard, which would wear down fabric.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Fabrics; Fashions; Hand quilting; Historic quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Sasheens; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles; Traditional quilts; Whiskers guards

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: I have here--I don't know if you all want it--a picture of Dr. Ruth with her grandmother.

Segment Synopsis: Both Dr. Hartgraves' mother and grandmother quilted, though her grandmother made utilitarian quilts for her hired help.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Fabrics; Grandmothers; Hand piecing; Historic quilts; Mothers; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles; Traditional quilts; Utilitarian quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: And, uh, you all might like to--this is a proclamation for Dr. Ruth Hartgraves' M.D.

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Hartgraves was honored by the mayor of Houston, Kathy Whitmire, by having a day named after her in honor of her accomplishments in the medical field.

Keywords: Baylor College of Medicine; Boston; Dr. Ruth Hartgraves' M.D. Day; Elizabeth Blackwell Award of the Year; Friends of Bijou Bend; Gynecology; Hermon Hospital; Honorary Doctorate; Houston Grand Opera Society; Houston Symphony Society; Jefferson Davis Charity Hospital; John F. Kennedy; Kathy Whitmire; Medical schools; Memorial Hospital system; Methodist Hospital; New England Hospital for Women and Children; Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award; Southwestern University; St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital; University of Texas

Subjects: Awards; Gynecology.; Medical education; Medicine; University of Texas at Austin

Partial Transcript: She had a, a marvelous quick wit, and as she traveled, she went, uh, around the world actually three times.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy received silk scarves and handkerchiefs from Dr. Hartgraves' world travels, which she would then quilt. Murphy's aunt, who taught her to quilt, kept in touch with Dr. Hartgraves. Murphy believes that the stories of these quilts need to be recorded and preserved.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Handkerchiefs; Magazine articles; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Silk scarves; Statue of Liberty contest; Travelers

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.

Partial Transcript: What year did you start quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy's aunt taught her to quilt at a young age, though the materials were not up to today's standard.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Fabrics; Families; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Now how old was your aunt at the time that she was teaching you to quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy's family was full of avid quilters, many of whom received advanced degrees during their lives. Because nuns couldn't drive, Sister Anita had to commute to school on the Greyhound bus.

Keywords: Doctorate degrees; Home economics degree; Howard Paine University; Nuns; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Sacred Heart Dominican College; Textiles; University of Texas

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Education.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So, do you feel that this history that your family has had with quilts and the inspiring people in their lives, this is why you're so involved in the history of quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy was a part of founding Texas Quilts, Texas Treasures, which preserved the stories of historical quilts in Texas.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Beaumont (Tex.); Creativity; Historic quilts; Preservation; Quilting books; Quilting guilds; Stories; Texas Quilts, Texas Treasures; Uniqueness

Subjects: Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.

Partial Transcript: But no, these stories should be kept. Uh, our second quilt search day was up at Jasper, Texas.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy and her group for Texas Quilts, Texas Treasures held a second quilt search day, during which a grandmother was dropped off and refused to eat. She then said some colorful things into the microphone.

Keywords: Festivities; Grandmothers; Interviews; Jasper (Tex.); Jasper Days; Muslin quilts; Preservations; Priceless; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stories; Strings

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: And we, we were so good and pure which we regretted since because we didn't want to steal quilts from people.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy recounts stories of quilts whose stories she preserved through Texas Quilts, Texas Treasures.

Keywords: Appliques; Arts and crafts; Aunt Jemima; Books; Chicago (Ill.); Chicago Exposition; Creativity; Elderly; Fabrics; Historic quilts; Model T Ford; Nursing homes; Pancake flour; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Quilt Expo; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts.

Partial Transcript: And yet there are stories now--I judged Oklahoma City last month...

Segment Synopsis: Murphy tells heartbreaking stories that she heard during her time with Texas Quilts, Texas Treasures, including someone who lost all their quilts but one and the quilt they saved won a ribbon, which was heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Keywords: Arts and crafts; Creativity; Historic quilts; Hurricanes; Oklahoma City (Okla.); Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Ribbons; Techniques

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: But, this, uh, other quilt that I really loved was a log cabin.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy met an elderly woman who made a quilt which Murphy really loved. Murphy describes the woman's age and attitude toward quilting as "heart touching."

Keywords: Applique; Fabrics; Historic quilts; Log cabin quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Stitching; Techniques; Textiles

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Now, history of quilts have inspired you with--almost every step of the way?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy taught her children how to quilt, which they embraced to humor her. Her husband encouraged her to write books and share her unusual techniques. She also taught quilting to senior citizens, which she says was a very gratifying experience.

Keywords: Arts and crafts.; Blocks; Craft and art; Dresses; Dressmaking; Families; Historic quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts; Self-owned businesses; Senior citizens; Straw hats; Techniques; Traditional quilts; Workshops

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: But so many of them had wanted to learn to quilt.

Segment Synopsis: One of Murphy's elderly students wanted to make something for her 12 children. She passed away from cancer later on. Murphy sees her teachings as having a religious purpose.

Keywords: African American quilters; Black quilters; Children; Patterns; Quilted pillows; Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: African American quiltmakers.; Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting.; Quilts.

Partial Transcript: And, uh, so, I've had some wonderful women.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy's quilting classes encouraged women to be confident in their artistic abilities, including one woman who got to show her mother and aunt her accomplishments at a quilt show.

Keywords: Confidence; Grandchildren; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Stitches

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: And I founded our guild in '81.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy has found her time as a teacher and founder of a guild to be rewarding.

Keywords: Creativity; Crochet; Guilds; Lace making; Louisiana; Members; Needlepoint; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So the teaching part of this is possibly more important to you than even the quilting, or how do you feel?

Segment Synopsis: Teaching quilting was a gratifying experience for Murphy, so she continued to go back and teach time after time, though she would say she was leaving.

Keywords: Baby quilts; Businesses; Cudahay Ham; Junior Forum; Pillows; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Stitch and flip potholders; Teaching

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: And I wrote an article and got published that years ago, we were raised to think you can't do two things well at once.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy finds that quilting coincides with her relaxation, and she wrote an article on how to do those two things together.

Keywords: Creativity; Entertainment; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Therapeutic quilting

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Uh, we had our museum--got a grant, finally.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy was active in schools, quilting with younger children and high-school-age children, allowing their creativity to flow through the quilts they were making.

Keywords: Banners; Blocks; Cotton balls; Grants; Museums; Neglects; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Russia; Washington (D.C.)

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: I know for my husband's sister's 93rd birthday, everybody that came to her party signed their hand, and the men, of all things, started putting their rings in there.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy created quilts for family members, which included the hand prints of other relatives. One of the quilts was stolen, which Murphy describes as awful and a sadness.

Keywords: Birthday parties; Birthday quilts; Hand prints; Lap quilts; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Sadnesses

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: Yeah, we have had, uh, nice things that our members have thought of and done.

Segment Synopsis: Many of Murphy's quilting projects are centered around helping others. She has made quilts for AIDS, for the Seamen's Mission, for a boy's haven, and more. Murphy had a fan tell her the story of her Alzheimer's patients doing crafts, which was inspired by Murphy.

Keywords: AIDS; AIDS quilts; Alzheimer's patients; Baby quilts; Boy's Town; Guild members; Guilds; Macaroni belts; Plastic; Quilters; Quilting; Quilting guilds; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Seaman's Mission

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.

Partial Transcript: So if there's anything that you wish to s, say about what quilting means to you or where you feel you'll go with quilting from here.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy reminisces about those who have taught and shared with her who have impacted her life.

Keywords: Archives; Denmark; Doreen Speckman; Mexico; National Quilt Association (NQA); Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts; Stories; United States

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Quilt Expo; Quilting arts workshop; Quilting--United States--Patterns.; Quilting.; Quiltmakers.; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textiles.