The Quilt Index

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Themes for Educators: U.S. History

The Quilt Index is a growing database featuring thousands of quilts dating from the 1700s to the present. This comprehensive resource provides free access to quilt images and information for teachers, students, researchers, and the general public. The Quilt Index can be used in educational many settings -- from elementary school math to university level history classes, bringing subjects such as American history, women’s history, and American folk art traditions alive for students by putting thousands of historic quilts at their fingertips.

The Quilt Index staff has developed several thematic areas by which you can now browse Quilt Index content. Many of these themes feature pictorial quilts, such as quilts depicting animals, foods, holidays, music, outer space, trees, or U.S. history.

Museum
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

Golden; Colorado; United States

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.

museums

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24-79-1
Museum
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The Michigan State University Museum has a collection of over 1000 quilts.

museums

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12-51-2
Documentation Project
Michigan Quilt Project
Michigan State University

Michigan Quilt Project

Michigan State University

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The Michigan Quilt Project (MQP) was established in 1984 to document, preserve, and present Michigan's quilting history. There are over 10,000 quilts documented through this continuing project.

docprojects

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12-51-1
Documentation Project
Kentucky Quilt Project
University of Louisville

Kentucky Quilt Project

University of Louisville

Louisville; Kentucky; United States

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.

docprojects

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8-65-1
Documentation Project
Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project
Louisiana Regional Folklife Program

Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project

Louisiana Regional Folklife Program

Baton Rouge; Louisiana; United States

The Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project features over 2500 quilts made in Louisiana from early 1800s to the present.

docprojects

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9-66-1
Museum
Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum

Illinois State Museum

Illinois State Museum

Illinois; United States

The Illinois State Museum's collection of 388 quilts are entered into the Quilt Index. These quilts were documented by the Illinois Quilt Research Project - IQRP.

museums

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5-61-1
Legacy
Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary

Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary

Chicago; Illinois; United States

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.

legacy

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18-47-1
Documentation Project
Wyoming Quilt Project, Inc.

Wyoming Quilt Project, Inc.

Wyoming; United States

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.

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27-88-1
Documentation Project
Quilts and Health
Michigan State University

Quilts and Health

Michigan State University

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The Quilts and Health project is engaged in documenting images and stories of quilts related to personal well-being, health education, patient advocacy, memorialization of victims of illnesses, and/or health-related fundraising.

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41-76-1
Documentation Project
Quilts and Human Rights
Michigan State University

Quilts and Human Rights

Michigan State University

United States

Quilts have been used to demonstrate solidarity, mark important events, provide vehicles for the expression of feelings and memories about human rights violations, and engage individuals in actions that will solve human rights issues.

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45-77-1
Documentation Project
Texas Quilt Search
University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquecentennial Quilt Association

Texas Quilt Search

University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquecentennial Quilt Association

Austin; Texas; United States

The Texas Quilt Search quilts represent some of the finest quilts made in Texas or brought to Texas.

docprojects

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25-84-4
2000
Every Vote Counts...
Spencer, Elaine

Date Made: 2000

Every Vote Counts: Election 2000

Creator: Spencer, Elaine

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Other embellishment technique

Quilt Size: 25.500 inches x 35.000 inches

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Hand-dyed, Other

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

Art Quilt, "Every Vote Counts: Election 2000", 25.5" x 35". This quilt is one of 64 art quilts that make up the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum's Rooted in Tradition Collection, which is on traveling exhibit throughout the USA through 2008. Featured in the book "Rooted in Trad...

KID: 24-20-7

24-20-7
11/1995
Bob I
Carmichael, Chris; ...

Date Made: 11/1995

Bob I

Creator: Carmichael, Chris; Swanson, Lynne

Location Made: East Lansing, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Applique

Quilt Size: 79 1/2" x 44 3/4"

Quilting Techniques: Not quilted

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Health

KID: 12-8-5019

12-8-5019
2000
Columbine High Sc...
Quiltmaker, Various...

Date Made: 2000

Columbine High School Healing Quilt #1

Creator: Quiltmaker, Various

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Other embellishment technique

Quilt Size: 95.000 inches x 113.000 inches

Quilting Techniques: Tied or tufted

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

One of two Columbine Healing quilts. This Columbine High School Healing quilt was donated by Debbie Paulson of Lakewood who was the Colorado caretaker of the quilts, made by people from all over the world who sent blocks to support the families of Columbine High School. This project originated thro...

KID: 24-20-342

24-20-342
2000
Columbine High Sc...
Quiltmaker, Various...

Date Made: 2000

Columbine High School Healing Quilt #2

Creator: Quiltmaker, Various

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Other embellishment technique

Quilt Size: 95.000 inches x 114.000 inches

Quilting Techniques: Tied or tufted

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

This second of two Columbine High School Healing quilts measures 95-1/2" x 114" . Predominant colors are white, cream, blue and multi with blue borders and blue sashing. Blocks are made of counted cross-stitch and embellished with beads, charms and buttons. The quilt is tied. Blocks i...

KID: 24-20-343

24-20-343
1950-1975
Frederick Douglas...
Negro, History Club...

Date Made: 1950-1975

Frederick Douglass Quilt

Creator: Negro, History Club of Marrin City and Sausalito

Location Made: California (CA) United States

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Kentucky Quilt Project

KID: 8-5-588

8-5-588
God's Blessings
Quilting Queens of ...

God's Blessings

Creator: Quilting Queens of Minden

Location Made: California (CA) United States

Contruction: Machine Applique, Pieced

Quilt Size: 66.5 x 91.5

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project

KID: 9-6-2033

9-6-2033
1951
Harriet Tubman Qu...
Negro History Club ...

Date Made: 1951

Harriet Tubman Quilt

Creator: Negro History Club of Marin City and Sausalito

Location Made: Marin City and Sausalito, California (CA) United States

Quilt Size: 96" x 120"

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Kentucky Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Designed by Ben Irvin.

KID: 8-5-436

8-5-436
Katrina's Menager...
Howell, Mary

Katrina's Menagerie

Creator: Howell, Mary

Location Made: California (CA) United States

Contruction: Machine Applique, Pieced

Quilt Size: 67.5 x 83.5

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project

Learned to quilt from: "I learned to quilt at home because we 'had' to make our covers for the winter." Quilts were given away.

KID: 9-6-1616

9-6-1616
1930-1949
Masonic Appliqué...

Date Made: 1930-1949

Masonic Appliqué

Location Made: California (CA)

Contruction: Hand Applique

Quilt Size: 67 x 83 1/4

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

KID: 12-8-9960

12-8-9960
1950s
Norman Rockwell -...

Date Made: 1950s

Norman Rockwell - Saturday Evening Post

Location Made: California (CA) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Applique Ink drawing/Painting

Quilt Size: 49" x 77"

Quilting Techniques: Tied or tufted

Fabrics: Velvet

Project: Michigan Quilt Project

KID: 12-8-9675

12-8-9675
1976-1999
Oklahoma City Bom...
American Federation...

Date Made: 1976-1999

Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial Quilt

Creator: American Federation of Government Employees Union

Location Made: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OK) United States

Contruction: Hand Piecing, Machine Piecing, Hand Applique, Machine Applique, Other novelty technique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 186" x 144"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting, Stuffed work

Fabrics: Cotton, Cotton or polyester blend

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights

KID: 12-8-5424

12-8-5424
1995
South Fork of the...
Hubbard, Pat

Date Made: 1995

South Fork of the Oregon Trail

Creator: Hubbard, Pat

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Applique, Hand Applique

Quilt Size: 77.000 inches x 95.000 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton or polyester blend, Cotton, Other, Plaid, Geometric, Floral, Solid/plain

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

Pat Hubbard pieced and quilted this South Fork of the Oregon Trail in 1994-1995, which tells of her grandparents' travel from the east to the Colorado Territory. The detailed embroidery accurately depicts many plants, birds and other animals found in the region. This quilt took 6th place in the Nati...

KID: 24-20-349

24-20-349
1901-1929
Pan American Expo...

Date Made: 1901-1929

Pan American Exposition Redwork

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Embroidery, Outline embroidered scenes from Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, in 1901 and nursery rhyme blocks along outside to fill.

Quilt Size: 78 x 78

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Made by mother of Robert D. Wiegel who donated it to ISU Museum.

KID: 5-2-75

5-2-75
1976-1999
Presidents
Poston, Irene

Date Made: 1976-1999

Presidents

Creator: Poston, Irene

Location Made: Fairdale, Kentucky (KY) United States

Fabrics: Cotton or polyester blend

Project: Kentucky Quilt Project

KID: 8-5-611

8-5-611
The Presidents
Hoyt, Melba

The Presidents

Creator: Hoyt, Melba

Location Made: Kentucky (KY) United States

Contruction: Machine Applique, Embroidery, Pieced

Quilt Size: 63 x 75

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project

Learned to quilt from: She took classes in Slidell from Jan Femening; She also learned from books and group quilting. Other quilts by the quiltmaker: She's made many others which are in Slidell, LA; some have been given as gifts. She's been sewing since she was a small child, and after the death of...

KID: 9-6-608

9-6-608
1939
Road to Recovery
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1939

Road to Recovery

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 78 inches x 95 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Elsie Gasperik kept and maintained the quilts her mother left behind in the East Hazelcrest house after Mary Gasperik died, in May 1969. In about 1980 she and her siblings divided up 19 quilts. This quilt was among that group and Elsie selected it. Gasperik tended to keep those quilts which she and ...

KID: 18-14-98

18-14-98
c.1979
The Sun Sets on S...
Brackman, Barbara; ...

Date Made: c.1979

The Sun Sets on Sunbonnet Sue

Creator: Brackman, Barbara; Metinger, Nancy; Dwigans, Cathy; Metzinger, Laurie Schwarm; Hood, Gloria; Englinski, Georgann; Dill, Bonnie; Boyer, Patty; Kelley, Bette; Jones, Carol Gilham; Dangerfield, Nadra; Anderson, Bryan

Location Made: Lawrence, Kansas (KS)

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 62 x 78

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Cotton or polyester blend, Velvet, Multiple scrap

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Purchased by collector Kitty Clark Cole and donated to the Michigan State University Museum in 2001.

KID: 12-8-1

12-8-1
1994
History of Colora...
Quilters, Multiple

Date Made: 1994

History of Colorado Trains

Creator: Quilters, Multiple

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Applique, Other applique, Other embellishment technique

Quilt Size: 69.000 inches x 92.500 inches

Fabrics: Cotton, Other synthetic, Solid/plain, Plaid, Geometric, Floral, Dotted, Striped, Checked

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

This pictorial quilt is a celebration of all types of railroads in Colorado history. It has hand embroidered decorations with cotton thread, buttons, a bell, and braid. As part of the museum's "Quilts in Public Places" program, this quilt hung at the Caboose Hobbies store in Denver in 19...

KID: 24-20-157

24-20-157
2007
So Many Twin Towe...
N'Diaye, Diana

Date Made: 2007

So Many Twin Towers

Creator: N'Diaye, Diana

Location Made: Washington, Washington D.C. United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Machine Applique, Folding, Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc), Photography/ photo transfer

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Metallic

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

KID: 12-8-5017

12-8-5017
Spanish American ...

Spanish American War Commemorative Flag Quilt

Location Made: Laramie, Wyoming (WY) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Applique, Machine Applique

Quilt Size: 71 - 71.75 inches x 86.25 - 86.75 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Muslin, Solid/plain

Project: Wyoming Quilt Project, Inc.; Laramie Plains Museum Collection

KID: 27-23-1001

27-23-1001
1993
Women's Suffrage ...
Mudd, Margie

Date Made: 1993

Women's Suffrage Quilt

Creator: Mudd, Margie

Location Made: Colorado (CO) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Photography/ photo transfer

Quilt Size: inches x inches

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton or polyester blend, Cotton, Plaid, Geometric, Floral, Dotted, Checked, Striped

Project: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection

This quilt celebrates the women's suffrage movement. It includes pictures of important women in American history. HowAcquired: Donated to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum by the maker Ownership/History: Made by Margie Mudd, a high school teacher from Arvada, CO, in August 1993 for a "100 Y...

KID: 24-20-156

24-20-156
August 1993
View from the Mou...
White, Beverly Ann

Date Made: August 1993

View from the Mountain Top

Creator: White, Beverly Ann

Location Made: Pontiac, Michigan (MI)

Contruction: Hand Piecing, Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 82 1/2" x 48 1/2"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Cotton or polyester blend, Linen, Ties used as neck ties

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

KID: 12-8-841

12-8-841
1940
War Between the S...

Date Made: 1940

War Between the States

Location Made: Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Hand Piecing

Quilt Size: 54 1/2" x 80 3/4"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Michigan Quilt Project

The color represented the colors of the North and South.

KID: 12-8-8072

12-8-8072
April 30, 1948
When I Put Out to...
Headrick, Felma Gre...

Date Made: April 30, 1948

When I Put Out to Sea

Creator: Headrick, Felma Green

Location Made: Georgetown, Texas (TX) United States

Contruction: Hand Piecing, Machine Piecing, Hand Applique, Embroidery, Small square at bottom is embroidered S 1/C [seaman first class]; embroidered detail on ocean waves suggests frothing as waves break upon the beach; fabric and stitching detail on seagulls

Quilt Size: 78 in. x 85 in.

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain, blue chambray

Project: Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search

Felma Headrick made many quilts to use and to give away. She made this one in memory of her husband, who died in 1946 of service-related injuries. This is an original pictorial quilt design, which, according to Karey Bresenhan, is uncommon for the period. The quilt was made over a period of eighteen...

KID: 25-21-52

25-21-52
2008
Yes We Can
Schmidt, Denyse

Date Made: 2008

Yes We Can

Creator: Schmidt, Denyse

Location Made: Bridgeport, Connecticut (CT) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Applique

Quilt Size: 56" x 54 1/4"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights

KID: 12-8-5527

12-8-5527