Artifact of the Month: May 2018

Gertrud Schrader's Signature Tablecloth

One of the liveliest characters in Ketchikan's recent history is Gertrud Schrader, whose memory has left a lasting impression on many here long after her passing. Gertrud was born on October 15, 1909 in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Her younger years were characterized by the hardships of war that necessitated frequent moves across Europe and Asia, including far flung places like Siberia, Harbin (northern Chinese province), Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria before emigrating to the United States in 1950. Six years later, she accepted a job at Ketchikan General Hospital. Here in Ketchikan, Gertrud met and married Chris Schrader, the love of her life. The two resided in a log cabin at Mountain Point. Of her final home, Gertrud said during a 1976 interview, "Ketchikan suits me fine."

Many remember Gertrud as an avid hitchhiker, outspoken conservationist, and for sharing old world traditions, like having real candles on her Christmas tree. She was especially well known for her parties and get-togethers, entertaining many children and adults. Another tradition made famous by Gertrud was her embroidered signature tablecloth used when serving guests to her home. Each time people came to dinner for the first time she had them sign their names on a white linen tablecloth. Later, she embroidered the signatures into a cross-shaped pattern, creating a permanent record of every dinner party or holiday meal shared at her Mountain Point home. The signatures collected run the gamut of close friends and frequent guests, local artists like Selina Peratrovich and Otto Schallerer, whole families, two Japanese sailors (who reportedly wouldn't sign their names in Japanese because they were so proud that they could write them in English), and Meyers Chuck old-timer Leo "Lone Wolf" Smith. The Museum estimates there are 1093 names embroidered on the tablecloth collected from approximately 1956 to 1995, the year Gertrud passed away.

Gertrud's memory, character, and sense of community live on in a few Ketchikan households who also embroider tablecloths with signatures of their guests. The Museum, too, plans to keep the tradition alive and well with our own community-driven signature tablecloth. At the opening of our new permanent exhibit, we invited guests to sign a blank tablecloth. Artist Halli Kenoyer has generously volunteered her time to embroider the signatures as a lasting memory of the opening of our permanent exhibit. Anyone interested in volunteering to embroider signatures may contact the Museum at (907) 225-5600.

Ketchikan Museums, KM 96.2.59.1