American hand-pieced and hand-quilted quilt in the Feathered Star Pattern by Mary Jane Gregory Balis (Amenia, NY, 1819-1892), all cotton blue resist print and plane white fabric throughout with white cotton thread. Corner cutouts measuring 10" x 10" to accommodate a four-poster bed. Medium-weight cotton batting, a separate hand bound binding, and an off-white cotton backing with by-the-piece quilting to blocks and straight parallel lines to border. An attached cloth label on the back corner of the quilt includes the quilt's history and provenance reading "Quilt- blue and white. Made by Mary Jane Gregory Balis, on the Balis Farm between Amenia, N.Y. and Sharon, Connecticut; Circa 1860. Sister of the Founder and First President of the University of Illinois". 83" H x 74" W. American, New York/Connecticut, circa 1860. Note: Genealogical research confirms the connection between the quiltmaker and the founder of the University of Illinois Springfield, IL, John Milton Gregory.

Private West Tennessee Collection.

Slight fading to blue fabric along one side. Overall yellowing to white cloth. Scattered small black marks and minor holes visible to quilt backing, overall in very good condition for its age.