Founded in 1773 and commonly regarded as “America’s First Museum,” The Charleston Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Inspired in part by the creation of the British Museum, the Museum was established by the Charleston Library Society on the eve of the American Revolution and its early history was characterized by association with distinguished South Carolinians.The Museum continued to develop prominent collections of ethnological and zoological specimens, although operations were temporarily suspended due to the Civil War, then began again shortly afterward.

Progressively acquired since the late 18th century, the Museum's collections now represent the most comprehensive assemblage of South Carolina materials in the nation. Focusing on the South Carolina Lowcountry, modern collecting emphases include natural history, historical material culture and both documentary and photographic resources. Today, the museum’s mission is to educate Charleston area residents and visitors about the natural and cultural history of the South Carolina Lowcountry through collections, exhibitions, preservation, conservation, research and related programming.

The Historic Textiles Collection contains approximately 10,000 objects of fashionable dress, everyday wear, military uniforms, domestic textiles, and textile art, including needlework and quilts. With approximately 180 full quilts and many portions and fragments, the holdings represent many Southeastern quilting traditions and styles from the 18th to 21st centuries. This includes a significant number of chintz applique quilts from the mid-19th century, as well as pieced quilts, crazy quilts, and whitework. Research appointments can be made to study objects in the collection by reaching out to the Curator of Historic Textiles via email, as found on the museum’s website.