Ararat, A Swope Park Elephant quilt block, Carrie A. Hall

This quilt block features Ararat the Swope Park Elephant, a popular resident of the Kansas City Zoo in the 1930s. Positioned on a white cotton background, Ararat is seen in left profile. His body is composed of yellow squares with brown triangles accenting his hooves, eyes, and ears. After this quilt block pattern was published in the Kansas City Star in 1931, Ararat quickly became a regional political symbol for Republican voters. This block is just one example of how quilting served as a vehicle for political messages, particularly for women, who were granted the right to vote in 1920. Ararat’s Democratic counterpart, Giddap, is featured next to him.