About This Site

Thirty years ago, the Quilt History List was a place for scholars, appraisers, and collectors to trade research with each other. Today, QuiltHistory.com carries that research forward for a different audience, the person who inherited a quilt, found one at a yard sale, or pulled one out of a closet and wants to know: is this old? Is it worth saving? What’s the story here? Our goal is to translate decades of quilt history research into plain-language answers a curious layperson can actually use, and to make sure nobody mistakes a hundred-year-old treasure for a garage rag.

The Quilt History List was a forum for people around the world interested in antique quilts and related textiles to discuss the historical aspects of quilting. It existed between 1996 and 2016 as a separate list, then separated into different focus groups. We discussed all aspects of antique quilts, fabrics, design, color, and the stories behind them. We also shared our experiences with the more practical side of finding, washing, researching, restoring, and even reproducing.

The primary focus was on learning from each other by exchanging stories, research, tips, and techniques. The group consisted of scholars, writers, teachers, collectors, quilt appraisers, restorers, librarians, museum curators, and other professionals. We reported findings, reviewed books and articles, and shared information about exhibitions, collections, publications, and conferences.

Some of the Quilt History List discussions are online. You can see a list here. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form below if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

For more information, contact Kris Driessen at quilthistories@gmail.com.

P.S. Here is the quilt top that started me on the journey to restore QuiltHistory.com. I found this wonderful Sunbonnet Sue, Overall Sam quilt top that had clearly been used by a mechanic to clean a dip stick or mop up grease. I thought “If only there was a place where someone could have found out that this top had value!” The light went off, the bell rang, and I started restoring the site from backups and the Wayback machine. It’s taking a ridiculously long time because even the platform was extinct but I am getting there!