Click on the quilt to see larger versions of quilt blocks rows.
Photograph by David Elliot, courtesy of Carolyn O'Bagy Davis.

PROSPECTOR QUILT
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Stitched on the back of the quilt is the following: "The Prospectors: An original design made in 1960. Stories of Prospectors I have known since living in the Quijotoa Mining District on the Papago Indian Reservation."

The Prospector Quilt measures 100" x 84", 6 blocks down by 5 blocks across. The blocks measure approximately 14" x 14", with a 2 1/4" sashing of solid brown. The hand quilting is done with 5-6 stitches per inch with white thread. The setting squares are outline quilted with a large "x" stitched corner to corner. The sashing strips are quilted with enlongated diamonds. The blocks are outline quilted with 2 parallel lines of quilting in the 2 lower corners and stars or saguaros in the 2 upper corners. The round images in each block are bordered with a bias circle, most likely made of commemcially produced bias tape. Descriptions of most of the blocks have been embroidered in dark brown thread in a running backstitch below the round images.

Goldie won two First Premium Blue Ribbons for her quilt in 1960. One was a First Premium in Indian Art from the Pinal County Fair. The second ribbon was from the Arizona State Fair, Hope Economic Department. She also won $350 for her first place quilt.

Background information on the miners depicted in the blocks was obtained in interviews with Bill Coplen, a miner and retired trading post operator who is now deceased. Bill knew Goldie back in the early 1930s; he helped layout the corners of her trading post at San Simeon. Bill married Goldie's step-granddaughter, and Marion Tracy's granddaughter, Wilma Ruth Tracy.

Some other miners that Bill Coplen recalled are:

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes-they are buried at the desert cemetary along with Goldie's family. He was a gandy dancer from Texas (he put in railroad ties). They had a mine in the mountain range north of Sells.

Keith Knight-he was sent to Arizona from Nebraska to buy cattle from the Indians. He became a prospector, but mostly he prospected for women. One time some people were going up to see Knight's mine and Goldie told them to take some food because Knight never had any food. He always tried to mooch off other people.

Carson-he was a character. He was a miner, but in earlier times was a "silk drummer." (salesman) He had an old Overland car.

Quilt courtesy of Malin and Myreel Lewis.

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