Quilts presented here are contributed by organizations that hold quilt collections or quilt documentation surveys. The Quilt Index aims to be inclusive of formalized quilt documentation projects. Each contributor's records reflect the information gathered and maintained by their organization. Researchers using the Quilt Index should factor in these differences. Please read about each project to learn about the unique collection parameters and the particular quilts included here in the Index.
The Alliance for American Quilts, MATRIX: Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online and Michigan State University Museum present the Quilt Index. MSU staff members lead project work, in consultation with the Quilt Index Task Force, the Quilt Index Editorial Board, and representatives from each contributor. Collectively these partners have developed the comprehensive fields, database, search mechanisms and web interfaces.
Contributors use the Quilt Index's online entry forms to enter and manage their quilt information and images. View sample web entry forms.
Current Contributors
 |
American Quilt Study Group ^
With NEH support, AQSG has digitized the abstracts for its journal Uncoverings and developed a plan and budget for future inclusion of the journal in the Quilt Index.
Read more |
 |
Connecticut Quilt Search ^
Beginning in 1991, The Connecticut Quilt Search Project documented over 3,000 quilts over a six year period. The Project culminated in 2002 with the publication of Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut. The original archives are held in the library of The Connecticut Historical Society.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Daughters of the American Revolution Museum +
The DAR Museum, founded in 1890, owns nearly 350 quilts and counterpanes dating from the 18th century to the early 20th century. The records relating to these quilts, including those prepared for the Quilt Index, are housed at the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Hawaiian Quilt Research Project ^
The Hawaiian Quilt Research Project, begun in 1990, documented over 1,200 quilts and 1,500 patterns made or designed before 1959, the year Hawaii became the fiftieth state. Records are currently closed as work begins in preparation for writing and publishing a comprehensive history of Hawaii's unique quilting heritage.
Read more | View quilts |
 |
Illinois Quilt Research Project quilts owned by Illinois State Museum *
The Illinois Quilt Research Project (IQRP) recorded more than 17,000 quilts at 30 quilt registration days and through mail-in registration. The Illinois State Museum will input the IQRP records for the quilts owned by the museum.
Read more | View
Quilts |
 |
Kansas Quilt Project
(Note: Images are being digitized.) The Kansas Quilt Project recorded more than 12,000 quilts in 1986 and 1987. At 72 Quilt Discovery Days the project saw quilts dating from the early 19th century to those just out of the frame. The KQP invited Kansans to bring quilts made all over the country. The Kansas Historical Society serves as the public repository for the archives and photos.
Read more | View Quilts
|
 |
The Kentucky Quilt Project at University of Louisville
Archives and Records Center *
The Kentucky Quilt Project, formed in 1981, was the first quilt
documentation project to survey a state's quilts. The records are
now housed at the UARC.
Read more | View
Quilts |
 |
Library of Congress, American Folklife Center +
The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has been a valuable consultant throughout the development of the Quilt Index. Quilts from the AFC's online project Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978-1996 are now indexed on this site.
Read more | View
Quilts |
 |
Louisiana Regional Folklife Program ^
Begun in 2001, the Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project features over 2500 quilts made in Louisiana from early 1800s to the present, including quilts documented in 1987-1990 and 1997, thanks to the Louisiana State Archives. Records are housed at Louisiana Tech University.
Read more | View quilts |
 |
The Mary Gasperik Quilts
The Mary Gasperik Quilts consist of 80+ quilts made in Chicago at the height of the quilt revival of the 1930s and 40s. Nearly all quilts are still owned by her descendants who generously supported this online project spearheaded by grand-daughter Susan Salser.
Read more |
View Quilts
|
 |
Merikay Waldvogel Private Collection #
Ephemera planning and digitization in progress. |
 |
Michigan Quilt Project at Michigan State University Museum/Great
Lakes Quilt Center *
The Michigan Quilt Project (MQP) was established in 1984 to document,
preserve, and present Michigan's quilting history. Records are housed
at MSU Museum.
Read more | View
Quilts |
 |
Minnesota Quilt Project ^
The Minnesota Quilt Project, a permanent subcommittee of the state-wide guild Minnesota Quilters, Inc., has documented more than 4,000 quilts made before 1976 and continues ongoing documentation in Minnesota.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Mountain Heritage Center ^
The Mountain Heritage Center, a regional museum located on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, has been collecting quilts and related textile tools of the Southern Appalachian region since 1975. Forty quilts included in the Quilt Index, dating from 1830 to 1975, are representative of the museum's regional collection of over 500 textile-related artifacts.
Read more | View Quilts
|
 |
The National Quilt Museum +
The National Quilt Museum (Museum of American Quilter's Society), founded in 1990 in Paducah, Kentucky, owns over 300 quilts representing 192 award-winning contemporary quilt makers.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Nebraska Quilt Project of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln +
The Nebraska Quilt Project (NQP) began in 1987 and resulted in registration of over 3,000 quiltmakers and almost 5,000 quilts made in Nebraska or brought to the state by homesteaders or pioneers before the 1920s. Records now reside in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
New England Quilt Museum/MassQuilts ^
The New England Quilt Museum, founded in 1987 and located in the historic district of Lowell, Massachusetts, owns over 300 antique and contemporary quilts, quilt tops, and quilt-related objects.
Read more | View quilts |
 |
The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey at Rutgers University Libraries/Special Collections and University Archives ^
Beginning in 1988, The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey (HQPNJ) documented over 2,500 quilts that were either made in or brought to New Jersey prior to 1951. The Project's records are held by Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
Read more | View quilts
|
 |
North Carolina Museum of History ^
The North Carolina Museum of History houses the archives of the North Carolina Quilt Project (NCQP). Concentrating on quilts made before 1976, the NCQP documented more than 10,000 quilts in 76 documentation days in 1985 and 1986. Featured on the cover of North Carolina Quilts, published by UNC Press (1988) featured this North Carolina Lily quilt.
Read more | View quilts |
 |
Quilts of Tennessee at Tennessee State Library and Archives *
The Quilts of Tennessee survey began in late 1983, focused on documenting
quilts made in Tennessee prior to 1930, and recorded 1,425 quilts.
Continuing documentation has increased the collection. Tennessee
State Library and Archives serves as the public repository for the
physical collection.
Read more | View
Quilts |
 |
Rhode Island Quilt Documentation Project at University of Rhode Island ^
RIQDP documented more than 800 quilts in sixteen documentation days between 1992 and 1997. Data entry in progress.
Read More | View Quilts |
 |
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum +
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the art and history of American quilts and quiltmaking, by providing outstanding exhibits and educational resources to the public. The quilts in our permanent collection and all related documentation are housed at the Museum.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Signature Quilt Project
The Signature Quilt Project began in 2003 and documented a series of signature quilts. In 2009, with the support of the Salser Foundation, the SQP became the pilot project to test new IMLS-funded tools for individual quilt submissions to the Quilt Index.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
State Historical Society of Iowa ^
The State Historical Society of Iowa houses the Mary A. Barton Collection, documenting the creation of quilts from 1840-1920. SHSI also holds documentation for over 2500 quilts registered with the Iowa Quilt Research Project.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
Texas Quilt Search and the Winedale Quilt Collection at the Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin +
Images and information for the Texas Quilt Search and the
Winedale Quilt Collection will be included in the Quilt Index. The
Texas Quilt Search project documentation will be preserved at the
Center through its Winedale Regional Center for the Quilt.
Read more | View Quilts |
 |
West Virginia Heritage Quilt Search, Inc. ^
The West Virginia Heritage Quilt Search, Inc. was established in 1990 to document quilts made prior to 1940. In 1992, 42 documentation days were held throughout the state, resulting in 4204 documented items. Records are housed at the Archives Library located in the Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, WV.
Read more | View quilts |
 |
Wilene Smith Private Collection #
My goal has been, and continues to be, to find and collect, preferably in original form, everything that has ever been published about quilts and quiltmaking, with an emphasis on the identities, sources, and evolution of published quilt designs throughout the 19th century and the first three quarters of the 20th century. (Left: ca. 1880 quilt block, unidentified pattern, Somerset County, PA)
Read more
|
 |
Wyoming Quilt Project, Inc. ^
The Wyoming Quilt Project (WQP) was established in 1994 and recorded 2800 quilts by December 2009. There was one team of 8-10 people each time who documented quilts in the summers, mostly in the south, east and middle of the state, until 2002. From 2002 forward quilts were documented only in Laramie, WY.
Read more | View quilts
|
* NEH Pilot Phase contributing partners
+ IMLS National Leadership Grant contributing partners
^ NEH Expansion Contributors
# IMLS Tools and Ephemera Contributor
|
|
We are now accepting applications from new contributors. Download application materials as PDF files here:
|
