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Quilt Treasures
“Quilt Treasures are the special women and men who were key to the American quilt revival of the 1960s and 1970s, reawakening interest nationwide in the history, craft, and social and aesthetic value of quilts. They ensured the preservation and documentation of quilts through the state and regional quilt projects and they took quilting as a cultural expression to new heights. As creators, teachers, communicators, and links in a growing network, these ‘quilt treasures’ built an art form and an industry that today involves and touches millions of Americans. As these individuals began to retire from active involvement in the quilt world, an important piece of American social and cultural history was at risk of being lost.”
–Alliance for American Quilts co-founder Shelly Zegart, 2003
The Quilt Treasures Project is a collaborative effort between The Alliance for American Quilts, the Michigan State University Museum, and MATRIX: The Center for the Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online to document the stories of a limited number of notable individuals — quilt makers, designers, business people, collectors, scholars, publishers — who were instrumental in moving the 20th century quilt revival forward in some significant way. The quilts featured in this gallery are examples from the Quilt Index that were quilted, inspired, or collected by one of the Quilt Treasures.
Individuals currently documented or soon to be documented as Quilt Treasures include
• Virginia Avery
• Cuesta Benberry, noted African American quilt scholar
• Jinny Beyer, artist
• David and Patricia Crosby
• Joyce Gross, editor and publisher, The Quilt Journal (1977-1987)
• Jean Ray Laury
• Bonnie Leman, founder of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine
• Cy Nelson, collector and editor of quilt publications
• Yvonne Porcella
• Bets Ramsey, co-director of the Tennessee Quilt Survey
• Hystercine Rankin
• Mary Schafer
• Merry Silber
• Woodard and Greenstein
Selected Related Publications:
View all records in this project
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Museum
Michigan State University Museum Michigan Quilt Project
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Documentation Project
The Quilts of Tennessee Tennessee State Library
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Quiltmaker
Ramsey, Bets Tennessee Quilt Search
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Story
Quilt Treasures Presents: Bets Ramsey
Marsha MacDowell
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Story
Quilt Treasures Presents: Cuesta Benbe...
Justine Richardson
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Collection
Cuesta Benberry Quilt Collection at th...
Worrall, Mary
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Story
Quilt Treasures Presents: Virginia Ave...
MacDowell, Marsha
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1942 or earlier
Calico Rose Gasperik, Mary
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1850-1875
Pieced Rose -
Pieced Rose -
1850-1875
Princess Feather Summers, Annie Redm...
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1800-1849
Crown of Thorns Walker, Mrs. D.P.
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1876-1900
Cotton Boll -
1972
Alice Blue Wreath... Harriman, Betty Har...
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1966
Clamshell Schafer, Mary Vida
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1972
Flowering Almond Harriman, Betty Har...
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c. 1834
Whig Rose -
1950-1975
October Foliage Schafer, Mary
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1969
Oak Leaf and Cher... Schafer, Mary Vida
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2003
Cuesta's Stars Finley, Bobbi; Havi...
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1950-1975
Democratic Rose Schafer, Mary set t...
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1800-1849
Bars with Diamond... -
c1915
Lone Star -
1826
Cradle Quilt Kachaugh, Betsy
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1980
Move Over Matisse... Avery, Virginia
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2001
Girls of the Gold... Laury, Jean Ray
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1997
Listen to Your Mo... Laury, Jean Ray
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1976-1999
Next Time Porcella, Yvonne
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1995
On Wednesday Morn... Porcella, Yvonne
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1986
Kimonos in my Kim... Porcella, Yvonne
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1980
Jinny Beyer Inspi... Stewart, Jackie Sue...
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1966
The Point Ramsey, Bets
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1973
Ramsey Family Qui... Ramsey, Bets
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1973
Friendship #1 Ramsey, Bets
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1973
Soft Bulletin Boa... Ramsey, Bets
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1984
Childhood Memorie... Ramsey, Bets; Senio...
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1988
Diverse Opinions Ramsey, Bets
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