This ca. 1872 Mason’s apron is from Pasquotank County.
The apron was worn by a member of the Eureka Masonic Lodge No. 317 that was chartered in 1872. The owner was a member of company L of the 17th NC Regiment (1st Organization) during the Civil War and is known as Elizabeth City’s first photographer.

The lidded, canned picnic basket pictured was handmade and comes from Currituck County. It was used in 1888 and then passed on to later generations. Family members have recollections of occasions in which this basket was used.

A trio of quilts provides a sampling of the Museum’s collection of 12 quilts donated by a Chowan County family. The 1892 Friendship Quilt is shown in a green-bordered block pattern that uses squares and half squares to form a repetitive pattern. The different fabric designs use a unifying color scheme of green, brown, cream, and rose with the squares bordered in a brighter shade of green. The 1870 Anvil block quilt is one of the old, old time favorites that we can call a classic. The pattern uses squares and triangles to form the anvil design. The colorful design uses blocks of solid and print greens, blues, grays, and peach. The block borders are red. The 1890 Mississippi Oak Leaf quilt uses only three colors to achieve this beautiful stylized design—tan, white, and khaki green. The khaki green is repeated in the block borders.

For information on how to donate artifacts to the museum, email the Collections Department.