Overview
In 1933, Sears, Roebuck and Company ran a national quilt contest tied to the Century of Progress International Exposition, the world’s fair held in Chicago. It is often described as the largest quilt contest in history, with a commonly cited figure of more than 25,000 entries, although counts differ between sources. It took place during the Great Depression, when a cash prize was a major draw for many makers.
The contest remains well known among quilt historians and collectors, partly because of its scale and partly because of the debate over who won and why.
How the contest worked
Sources describe a multi-stage structure:
- Entries were first judged locally and regionally, with regional finals at large Sears stores around the country.
- Regional winners received smaller prizes.
- Finalists, commonly cited as around 30, went on to Chicago, where national awards were decided and quilts were displayed at the Sears exhibit at the fair.
Sears promoted the contest heavily through newspaper advertising, and the rules were published in early 1933. Makers reportedly had about three months to finish a quilt, which was a short window for hand-pieced and hand-quilted work.
The prizes
The grand prize was widely reported as $1,200, a very large amount at the time. The rules offered a first prize of $1,000, plus a $200 bonus if the grand national winner was an original design commemorating the Century of Progress. A total prize pool of about $7,500 is also commonly cited. Many ribbons and smaller awards were given at the local and regional levels, so a ribbon attached to a surviving quilt does not necessarily mean it won a top award.
The winner and the controversy
The grand prize went to Margaret Rogers Caden of Lexington, Kentucky, for a traditional quilt known as “Star of the Bluegrass.” Quilt historians Barbara Brackman and Merikay Waldvogel, who wrote the book Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World’s Fair, have discussed two points of controversy:
- The rules had encouraged original designs honoring the fair’s theme, but the top prize went to a traditional design.
- Caden is reported not to have stitched the quilt herself. Other Kentucky stitchers, including Ellen Mainous, did the work, and critics have noted that they did not receive credit or a share of the prize.
Brackman has also written that the judges did not follow the written rules. Those who made original commemorative quilts felt overlooked, which has been part of the story ever since.
Commemorative entries
Many makers did follow the call for a Century of Progress quilt. Descriptions of surviving examples mention:
- The Sears exhibit building, shown at the center of a number of quilts
- Transportation themes, such as airplanes and dirigibles
- Architecture, fashion and other aspects of progress
- Chicago history, including Fort Dearborn and the Great Chicago Fire
- Embroidered or appliquéd fair buildings and text
Some makers, including Bertha Stenge and Ida Stow, are mentioned in histories of the contest. Sears later displayed some commemorative quilts at a 1934 reprise of the fair, which has been seen as a partial response to complaints that the category had been ignored.
Why the contest still matters
The contest gives researchers a large snapshot of American quilting in the early 1930s, including popular patterns, color palettes such as the pastel greens of the era, and the economic hopes of makers. It is also an early example of a corporate sponsored quilt competition, and its disputes about rules, credit and tradition versus innovation remain familiar. Anyone organizing a themed challenge can learn from it; see our guide to quilt show themes and ideas for ways to write clear rules.
Researching a quilt that may be an entry
If you think a family quilt could be related to the contest:
- Look for documentation. Labels, family letters, newspaper clippings or ribbons may help, but remember that ribbons were given at many levels.
- Check the design. Commemorative entries often include fair imagery, the Sears building, or the words “Century of Progress.”
- Search the Quilt Index. The Quilt Alliance’s Quilt Index includes documented 1933 Sears contest entries.
- Consult the book. Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World’s Fair is out of print but can be found secondhand and in libraries.
- Ask museums and appraisers. Quilt museums and qualified quilt appraisers can help with dating and identification.
Many quilts of the era resemble contest entries without being entries, so treat identification cautiously.
Frequently asked questions
Who sponsored the 1933 World’s Fair quilt contest?
Sears, Roebuck and Company sponsored it in connection with the Chicago Century of Progress fair.
Who won the grand prize?
Margaret Rogers Caden of Lexington, Kentucky, for “Star of the Bluegrass.”
Why was the result controversial?
Reasons include the choice of a traditional design when the rules favored commemorative originals, and the fact that she did not do the stitching herself.
How many quilts were entered?
More than 25,000 is the figure most often cited, though sources may vary.