When President Lincoln called for the formation of the United States Sanitary Commission, did he realize what would be required of the men and women charged with collecting and transporting goods to men in the field? Since both the North and the South seemed to think things would be settled quickly, it's safe to say he did not. By 1863, women had collected and distributed tens of thousands of quilts and comforters for the soldiers. They had wound miles of bandages and scraped barrels of lint. And still ... the need grew.
In Chicago, Mary Livermore and Jane Hoge, leaders of the Northwest Branch of the Sanitary Commission, came up with the idea of sponsoring a fair to raise money in support of "the cause." To drum up support for the idea, they sent letters to towns throughout the Midwest and and visited local aid societies, asking women to make or donate items to be sold at the Sanitary Fair. The fall, 1863 event raised $100,000.
The outstanding (and perhaps unexpected) success of the first Sanitary Fair spawned more events. In St. Louis, the Western Sanitary Commission sponsored the 1864 Mississippi Valley Fair and raised more than $550,000. Visitors could browse booths displaying the latest in plows, sewing machines, and all other manner of manufactured goods.
The daily newspaper issued for the St. Louis event reported that "Grover and Baker donated three fine machines ... Wheeler and Wilson also three.Our attention was particularly drawn to one of Wilcox and Gibbs ... It is almost entirely noiseless. Singer donated two fine machines of his manufacture. Aiken's knitting machine next claimed our attention. By this a pair of socks can be knit in fifteen minutes!" How many women do you suppose wanted one of those knitting machines?
After browsing, fair attendees could have lunch at a cafe (courtesy of the ladies who baked goods and served them), participate in contests, and even go fishing!
Sanitary fairs drew large crowds, not only because visitors supported the Union army, but also because they brought together a variety of goods for sale in an era when department stores were uncommon. In most towns, stores carried raw
materials (bolts of fabric) in lieu of finished products like aprons or ready-to-wear children's clothing. Imagine the fun of spending money on things a woman usually had to make ... and having the excuse that it was "for a good cause."
The quilt at left was displayed in the Bed Linen & Quilt Department (pictured above) at the St. Louis event in 1864. A Miss Lizzie Hausler won the quilt, which was valued at $125.
The French shelf clock sitting in front of the quilt was donated by the state of New York, which had held it's own very successful Sanitary Far earlier in 1864.
The "grandmother's flower garden" quilt at right was also raffled off at the St. Louis Fair. It bears various dignitary's signatures. General Grant's signature appears on the central hexagon. A Nebraska family won the quilt, and it now resides in the collection of the Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln.
Fundraising events are common in 2015. Our local Christian school sponsors an "auction" of donated items every year. Raffle quilts are often produced to raise funds in support of a variety of causes.
Have you ever made an item to be donated to a fundraiser? If so, you are one of a long line of generous women.
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Stephanie Grace Whitson's interest in the Civil War inspired her novel Daughter of the Regiment, set in Missouri during the Civil War. This fall, a novella inspired by the service of Illinois women during the war will appear in A Basket Brigade Christmas.
To learn more about Stephanie's books, visit www.stephaniewhitson.com.
Stephanie loves to chat with her readers. Join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/stephaniegracewhitson-official.
