While Searching for Hexagons I found a Calico Pie

While Searching for Hexagons – I found a Jolly Calico Tree

As I continued my search for the embroidered hexagon quilt pattern source, I stumbled upon a curious image of a quilt – one I had not seen before, but it seemed familiar as it reminded me of applique quilts designed by Florence LaGanke Harris in the 1930-40s.  So I googled “The Calico Tree Quilt” and found out that Florence did indeed have a quilt called that – and several sources led me to the January 1939 issue of the Country Gentleman.  A few days later, there it was – the Calico Tree – just like the image found on the September 22, 2013 Busy Thimble posting ( http://busythimble.blogspot.com/2013/09/ ) of a 1940s catalog.

The Home Sewing Fashion World Catalog offered patterns for clothing, furnishings and quilts according to the post, and was mailed to Mrs. Rust of Auburn, Maine.  The Calico Tree quilt, V-11199 is described as “a cheery and highly effective design for applique.”  Transfer pattern, color suggestion chart and complete instructions on how to make the quilt could be ordered.

What brought me to the site was, V-11208 Dutch Children for embroidery…in addition pattern includes 15 animal designs, suitable for embroidery on children’s clothes, nursery linen…etc.  Alas, the Dutch girl did not have braids like the one on my quilt – but this got me thinking about Florence’s alter ego Nancy Page.  Did this quilt ever come up in one of her columns?

And the answer is yes!  Back in April – May 1932, in the syndicated Nancy Page column, she refers to a summer spread, using a fine white sheet on which she appliqued a large and jolly calico tree.  On this tree grew flowers and fruit.  Birds and butterflies made of colorfast ginghams added their color to the general scheme.   A border of plain green gingham finished the sides and bottom. She also referred to soft colored tubfast prints – which reminded me of some Sun-Tub dolls I found years ago at a thrift shop.  (As you can see, my mind rabbits around a lot!)

Anyway, I got to thinking of Florence and did a bit of searching on her.  The best recent overview on her is by Wilene Smith (http://quilthistorytidbits--oldnewlydiscovered.yolasite.com/nancy-page.php ).

I did find a nice article on her in the 1937-39ish (undated) volumes called Women of Ohio, plus other details of her life.  Here are the results of my digging.

Florence LaGanke Harris (Mrs. Frederick Aston Harris) of Cleveland, Ohio is a recognized authority on home economics, not only in Ohio but also largely throughout the country by reason of her wide activities in the field and her extensive writings on the subject.  She was a syndicated writer, newspaper woman and home economics expert.  She attended Cleveland schools, then Teacher’s College, Columbia University, where she received a B.S degree.  She became an instructor at Columbia, then supervisor of home economics in schools of Oakland, CA.  Florence entered the newspaper field via the Cleveland Plain Dealer and later became the home economics editor of the Cleveland Press.  During this period she wrote articles that were widely syndicated.

She worked with an artist to design quilts, selling some to magazines and had an interesting collection of 50 quilts, and was extremely interested in home decorations and was an omnivorous reader.

Her first position was that of a hospital dietitian in Cleveland and later she was manager of the lunchroom of the Horace Mann School of Columbia University.  She then became in instructor of home economics at the Flora Stone Mather School and later at Western Reserve University of Cleveland.  She was the supervisor of the economics department of the Teachers College of Columbia University; then supervisor of the home economics in the public schools of Oakland, CA.  When she returned to Cleveland in 1922, she became the home economics editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and later of the Cleveland Press and was appointed director of woman’s activities under the title of “Home on the Sky.”

Education and Resume:
She graduated high school in 1904
Pratt Institute 1908-09
Technical Certificate, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1910
Dietician, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cleveland, 1910-12 
1912 Published, The Household Arts Review - Hospital Dietitian (extract from a letter), Florence LaGanke 1910
Director, Horace Mann Lunch Room, Columbia University, 1912-13
Director, Whittier Hall Dining Rooms, Columbia University, Summer Session, 1913
Instructor in Household Administration, College for Women, 1913
Instructor in Household Administration, Western Reserve University, 1913-14
In charge of Haydon Hall Cafeteria, 1914
Instructor in Household Administration, Western Reserve University, 1914-15
In charge of Flora Mather House Dining Rooms, 1915
Secretary-Treasurer Ohio State Home Economic Association, 1915
Instructor in Household Administration, Western Reserve University, 1916-17
Summer Session Instructor, Columbia University, 1917 – Large Quantity Cookery and Household Purchasing
Instructor in Household Administration, Western Reserve University, 1917-18
Columbia University, City of New York, Officers of Instruction, Florence LaGanke, Household Arts, 1918-19
Senior class of 1919, School of Practical Arts, Columbia College, Florence May LaGanke, Cleveland, Ohio
Published in the November 1919 Issue of American Cookery, an article called “Food – After the War”
Supervisor of the Teaching of Household Economics, University of California High School Faculty, 1920-21

In June 1922, the women members of the supervisory department of the Oakland public schools hosted a tea for her.  At the close of the June 1922 semester, Miss Florence M. LaGanke, director of home economics headed back to Cleveland after 3 years in the Oakland Public Schools.

Florence May LaGanke received a B.S. degree from Columbia University during the 1922-23 school year.  She married Frederick Aston Harris in 1923.  Also that same year, she had an article published in the June 1923 issue of The American Food Journal, “The Big Idea in Home Economics” by Florence LaGanke, formerly director of Home Economics, Oakland California.  On June 2, 1926 she led a Home Economics Group discussion at the National Conference of Social Work, held in Cleveland May 26-June 2, 1926.

Nancy Page Syndicated Columns:
1927 Started the syndicated column “Nancy Page” on February 20, 1927 (Brooklyn Times Union)
The paper began announcing the column on February 16, 1927

1928 Nancy Page Quilt Club – Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt
Edmonton Journal (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) November 15, 1928, Page 20

1929 Nancy Page Club – Noah’s Ark Wall Hanging
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, PA; April 08, 1929, Page 6

1932 Nancy Page – Starts a Midweek Pieced Quilt Club, starting with the Building Block Quilt Pattern
May 17, 1932 (Evening Star, Washington, DC and Brooklyn Times Union)

1935 Started seeing the column Nancy Page Hints, latest found was April 17, 1944
January 15, 1935: Nancy Page Hints on Homemaking, had a quilt pattern
(Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY)

1943 March 16, 1943: Nancy Page’s Chats (Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY)
January 1, 1943:  Nancy Page’s Suggestions (Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT

1944 April 17, 1944: Nancy Page Hints (The Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL)

Many of the syndicated columns offered leaflets on the topics discussed, or additional directions for the project presented.  Readers had to send a stamped self-address envelope for the leaflets; and a SASE plus 2-10 cents for each pattern ordered.

While doing her columns, and working at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, she still was able to be the Chairman of the Home Economics in Business Section according to the October 1929 and January 1930 Bulletin of the American Home Economics Association.  In 1935 she was made home economics consultant, and did daily broadcasts over the radio.

At the time of the Woman of Ohio bio, 1937-39 time frame, she was quite a busy lady:
Belonged to the Epworth Euclid Methodist Episcopal church
Member and Director of the Woman’s City Club of Cleveland
Life member of the Associated Charities
Served on the Board of Directors of the Child Health Association of Cleveland
Belonged to the Home Economics Association – national, state and local
Member of both state and national organizations of American Dietitians
Served on the board of directors of the Needlecraft Guild of Cleveland
Active member of the Cleveland Woman’s Press Club
Member of the Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association
Member of Columbus Chapter, Theta Sigma Pi
Member of the English Speaking Union

In addition, Florence was widely known as the author of many books:
Patty Pans, A cook book for beginners, 1929
The home economics omnibus, 1935 (with Hazel H. Huston)
Everywoman’s complete guide to homemaking, 1936
Foods, their nutritive, economic and social values, 1938 (with Ruth Adele Henderson)
Flavor’s the thing, 1939 (re issued in 1946 as: Cooking with a foreign flavor)
Pies a-plenty, 1940
Careers in home economics, 1942
Food ‘n’ fun for the invalid, 1942
Victory vitamin cook book for wartime meals, 1943
400 salads, 1944 (with Florence A. Cowles)
The new home economics omnibus, 1945 (updated from 1938)
Let’s Study foods, 1945 (with Ruth Adele Henderson)
Vegetable Cookery, 1952
Young folks at home; home economics for junior high school, 1953 (with Treva E. Kauffman)
Your foods book, 1964 (with Rex Todd Withers)

Florence LaGanke – Nancy Page Series Quilts and other series patterns

(Illustrated by Ann Kerven)

1928-29  Grandmother’s Flower Garden

1929  Noah’s Ark Wall Hanging

1929  Kitchen Stencils

1929, 1931  Alphabet Quilt / ABC Quilt

1930-31  Magic Vine Quilt

1931  Leaf Quilt

1931  Wreath Series

1931-32  Garden Bouquet

1932  Snowflake Quilt

1932-33  Old Almanac Quilt / Zodiac Quilt

1933  French Bouquet

1933  Brother Sister Quilts

1934  Festoon Quilt

1934  Quilt of Many Stars

1934  Crossed Arrows

1934  Star and Sprig Quilt

1934  Laurel Wreath Quilt

1935  Fruit Linens

1935  Georgian Rose Quilt

1935  Calendar Quilt

1935  Spreading Beauty (Dec 1935, Successful Farming – per Wilene Smith)

1936  Summer Garlands Quilt

1936  Ships at Sea

1936-37  Falling Leaves Quilt

1937  One, Two, Buckle My Shoe Quilt

1937  Picnic Cloth

1937  Quilt of Birds

1937  Tyrolean Table Cover

1938  Hearts & Flowers

1938-39  Mother Goose Quilt

1939-40  The Calico Tree (Jan 1939, The Country Gentleman; 1940 catalog; first described in 1932)

1940  Our Blue Ribbon Quilt (Feb 1940, The Country Gentlemen)

Other Projects offered by the Nancy Page Quilt Club or Nancy Page Club (There are many, many more, but this should give you an idea.  Many times, the projects incorporated the same motifs used in the quilts – but were used for household items or clothing embellishments.)

1929  Bluebell Apron Pocket

1929  Handkerchief Monogram

1929  Trefoil Applique Pattern (pillow, guest towel, dress)

1929  Fish Applique Pattern

1929  Swan Needlework Pattern

1929  Star Applique Pattern

1929  Handkerchief Designs

1930  Apple Applique

1930  Bird Applique (pocket)

1930  Tea Time Apron

1930  Calico Flower

1930  The House Goes “Summery”

1930  Quaint Folewr Passepartout (spelled this way in the clipping)

1930  Sturdy Sewing Apron

1930  Dainty Sewing Apron

1930  Practical Porch Pillow

1930  Fish Bath Mat

1930  Fish Towel

1931  Scrap Book

1931  Baby’s Bib

1931  Tray Cloth

1931  Poppy Pillow

1931  Flower Applique

And the list goes on and on…

On another note, while looking for “Calico Tree” I came across a very cute poem from 1871 by Edward Lear in his book “Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets” called “Calico Pie.”  I couldn’t help but wonder if Florence knew of this poem while designing her Jolly Calico Tree with flowers, fruit, birds and butterflies, since she was known to be quite a reader.

Sources – Not all, but most:

Cullman Times Democrat, October 2, 1966, Page 2

“I have fourteen versions of the “Rose of Sharon”, but I have not been able to find the “Calico Tree” which I understand appeared in a 1939 issue of the now defunct “Country Gentleman.”

The Busy Thimble Blog, September 22, 2013 – 1940s Catalog “Home Sewing Fashion Catalog”

Nancy Page By Florence La Ganke – Jolly Calico Tree references

The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, NE; April 19, 1932, Page 16

The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH; April 19, 1932, Page 24

Evening Star, Washington, DC; April 19, 1932, Page B-13, Image 29

The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; April 28, 1932, Page 6

Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY; 04 May 1932, Page 12

Nancy Page Column Starts – Brooklyn Times Union; Introduction – Feb 16, 1932; First Column – Feb 20, 1927

Nancy Page Midweek Pieced Quilt Club Starts – May 17, 1932; Evening Star, Washington, DC; Brooklyn Times Union

Nancy Page Quilt Club – Edmonton Journal, Canada; Nov 15, 1928, Page 20; Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt

Nancy Page’s Chats – Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY; Mar 16, 1943, Page 15

Nancy Page Hints – The Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL; Nov 02, 1943, Page 14

Nancy Page, Nancy Page Club, Nancy Page Quilt Club, Nancy Page’s Chats, Nancy Page Hints – various sources

Series Quilts and Other Patterns – various newspapers sources

Books by Florence LaGanke Harris – various online book sources

Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets by Edward Lear, 1871 – “Calico Pie”

A Feast of Good Things, 1912; “Hospital Dietitian” by Florence LaGanke, 1910

College for Women: Western Reserve University, Catalog for 1913-1914

College for Women: Western Reserve University, Catalog for 1916-1917

College for Women: Western Reserve University, Catalog for 1917-1918

Catalog of Officers and Students of Columbia College, NY; Catalog 1918-19

Annual Announcement of Courses of Instruction, University of California, 1920

University (of California) High School Journal, January 1921

Catalogue by Columbia University, Volume 1923/1924 – Degrees Conferred 1922-23, BS in Education & Practical Arts

The Journal of Home Economics, 1915; Ohio State Home Economics Association, Secretary-Treasurer

American Cookery, December 1919; “Food – After the War”

The American Food Journal, June 1923; “The Big Idea in Home Economics”

Oakland Tribune, Oakland, CA; June 2, 1923; “Resection Arranged for Miss LaGanke”

National Conference of Social Work, Conference Bulletin, Cleveland, May 1926

American Home Economics Association, October 1929 and January 1930

Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state by Ruth Neely, Ruth, ed; Ohio Newspaper Women's Association (undated – 1937-39?)