I N D I A N A S TAT E M U S E U M A N D H I S T O R I C S I T E S
CROSSROADS EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024
Sparking a Family Passion for Coverlets
John and Janet Simmermaker began collecting antique coverlets almost unexpectedly in 1972 when John Simmermaker’s grandmother was clearing her house of unwanted items, including an old coverlet that had belonged to his greatgrandmother. He convinced his grandmother to save the heirloom just as she was about to toss it onto a fire, and that sparked a passion that has lasted more than five decades. Since then, the Pulaski County couple and their children have collected more than 700 coverlets from the 1830s to the 1870s. Considered one of the country’s most respected coverlet collections, the John and Janet Simmermaker Family Collection stands out for its rare dyes, historical motifs and a nearly complete grouping of all Indiana’s known professional weavers. The family has generously donated 128 coverlets representative of every weaver in their collection to ISMHS, and now 32 of those have been selected for the new Woven Together exhibit, opening Feb. 3 at the museum.
“Through acquiring the coverlets from the Simmermaker collection, the museum system will have a coverlet example from every known Indiana Jacquard weaver.” “As proud Hoosiers, we are delighted to donate our 50-year collection of Indiana coverlets to the Indiana State Museum,” said John Simmermaker. “We wanted to make sure they would be saved for posterity, and we felt the museum would be the best place for them to remain safe, secure and visible for years to come.” Adding these beautiful pieces to the existing collection will not only help ISMHS share the story of 19th-century life in Indiana, it will also make ISMHS a hub for research and study about coverlets as well as the weavers who made them. “Through acquiring the coverlets from the Simmermaker collection, the museum system will have a coverlet example from every known Indiana Jacquard weaver,”
said Curator of History Mary Figueroa, who curated Woven Together. She added that ISMHS aims to create an index of coverlet patterns and motifs to assist researchers. Museum visitors can also learn about Indiana’s rich weaving traditions through Woven Together. The exhibit will feature coverlets with an array of vivid colors, mainstay materials and astounding patterns. It will also share the stories of Hoosier weavers, most of whom left Europe during the Industrial Revolution with hopes of revitalizing their trade in the United States. “This exhibit will give visitors a sense of the industrial changes that took place during the mid-19th century in Indiana,” said Figueroa. “Woven into these coverlets are clues that hint at a gradual move away from the homespun and handwoven toward an Indiana where manufacturing and innovation was beginning to take hold. More broadly, I hope Woven Together will spark visitors’ interest in textile history and an appreciation for the artistry and labor of weaving.”