National Quilt Collection

"Quilt": A cover or garment made by putting wool, cotton or other substance between two cloths and sewing them together. An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, LL.D., New York 1828. 

The National Quilt Collection incorporates quilts from various ethnic groups and social classes, for quilts are not the domain of a specific race or class, but can be a part of anyone’s heritage and treasured as such. Whether of rich or humble fabrics, large in size or small, expertly crafted or not, well-worn or pristine, quilts in the National Quilt Collection provide a textile narrative that contributes to America’s complex and diverse history. The variety and scope of the collection provides a rich resource for researchers, artists, quilt-makers and others. 

Part of the Division of Home and Community Life textiles collection, the National Quilt Collection had its beginnings in the 1890s. Three quilts were included in a larger collection of 18th- and 19th-century household and costume items donated by John Brenton Copp of Stonington, Connecticut. From this early beginning, the collection has grown to more than 500 quilts and quilt-related items, mainly of American origin, with examples from many states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Most of the contributions have come to the Museum as gifts, and many of those are from the quilt-makers’ families. The collection illustrates needlework techniques, materials, fabric designs and processes, styles and patterns used for quilt-making in the past 250 years. The collection also documents the work of specific quilt-makers and commemorates events in American history. 

Learn more about the quilt collection and step behind the scenes with a video tour.

Place: United States

1850 - 1875 Pieced Quilt

Plain-weave roller-printed cottons, mainly geometrics, plaids, and stripes were effectively assembled to construct this quilt.
Description
Plain-weave roller-printed cottons, mainly geometrics, plaids, and stripes were effectively assembled to construct this quilt. Pieced blocks, 8 1/2-inch square, are crossed diagonally by a band of pieced small triangles to create an overall interesting geometric effect.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850-1875
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17332.000
catalog number
T17332.000
accession number
321804

1800 - 1820 Block-printed Quilt

A floral block-printed fabric was used to make this quilted counterpane. Three panels of cotton, block-printed in brown, red, and pink with penciled blue were sewn with linen thread to create the center. This was framed by a band of trees also block-printed on cotton. "S .
Description
A floral block-printed fabric was used to make this quilted counterpane. Three panels of cotton, block-printed in brown, red, and pink with penciled blue were sewn with linen thread to create the center. This was framed by a band of trees also block-printed on cotton. "S . B 6" is cross-stiched on the lining. It was quilted in a chevron pattern, 9 stitches per inch, and finished with an ivory silk tape binding.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1800-1820
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17338.000
catalog number
T17338.000
accession number
321804

1850 - 1875 "Nine-patch" Pieced Quilt

An unknown quilter assembled this quilt using a striking combination of deep blue, red, and various plaids of wool, wool-cotton, and cotton fabrics. Five-and-a-half inch square blocks are pieced in a modified “Nine-patch” design.
Description
An unknown quilter assembled this quilt using a striking combination of deep blue, red, and various plaids of wool, wool-cotton, and cotton fabrics. Five-and-a-half inch square blocks are pieced in a modified “Nine-patch” design. Each has a red center, blue rectangles, and plaid corner squares. They are set alternately with blue squares. These are framed by plaid triangles along the edges. It is quilted 8 stitches per inch. The binding, a ½ inch straight strip of the same blue fabric as the large squares, completes the quilt.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850-1875
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17346.000
catalog number
T17346.000
accession number
321804

1840 - 1860 "LeMoyne Star" Pieced Quilt

Thirty-five blocks, 8-inches square, are pieced in the “Lemoyne Star” pattern. They are set diagonally with twenty-four 8-inch squares of the same floral printed cotton. All four sides are finished with large triangles of printed cottons.
Description
Thirty-five blocks, 8-inches square, are pieced in the “Lemoyne Star” pattern. They are set diagonally with twenty-four 8-inch squares of the same floral printed cotton. All four sides are finished with large triangles of printed cottons. On one end is an 8½-inch border of the same floral print as the squares. Quilting patterns include outline on the pieced squares; parallel lines and 1½-inch diagonal grid on the un-pieced squares; and, clamshell on the border. It is quilted 8 stitches per inch. The quilt is an interesting combination of mid-19th century roller printed cottons.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840-1860
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17350.000
catalog number
T17350.000
accession number
321804

1859 - 1870 Adaline Wharton Street's Pieced Album Quilt

This album quilt top, belonged to Adaline Wharton Street, the donor’s grandmother. The quilt top is composed of twenty-four 7¾-inch blocks pieced in the “Flying Geese” or “Goose in the Pond” pattern.
Description
This album quilt top, belonged to Adaline Wharton Street, the donor’s grandmother. The quilt top is composed of twenty-four 7¾-inch blocks pieced in the “Flying Geese” or “Goose in the Pond” pattern. Except for four blocks in the center made of green and white cottons, the rest of the top utilizes roller-printed cottons. This unfinished quilt top has a 4-inch border along one side.
Adaline was born in Pennsylvania in 1820. She married Jonathan Street (1843) and in 1855 they settled in Wenona, Illinois. The dates on this quilt top are 1859 and 1869. There are several signatures, most with the surname of “MCarty” or “McCarty”. It is not possible to determine whether these are blocks from Pennsylvania or Adaline’s new home in Illinois. Album quilts were popular items during the mid-19th century, often given to friends or family moving to new locations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1859-1870
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17603
accession number
318024
catalog number
T17603

1870 - 1880 Betty West's "Nurse's" Quilt Top

Five 24-inch pieced 8-Pointed Star blocks and four Railroad Crossing blocks were constructed using 27 different printed cottons. This quilt top was made about 1879 by Betty West, who was employed by Leonides C.
Description
Five 24-inch pieced 8-Pointed Star blocks and four Railroad Crossing blocks were constructed using 27 different printed cottons. This quilt top was made about 1879 by Betty West, who was employed by Leonides C. Campbell and his wife, Mary, as a nurse for their children.
One of the children, Mary C. Watkins, wrote in 1939: “Betty West, our Negro nurse, made this quilt for my brother Kennedy and me. The many stitches made by stiff old fingers showes the real love she had for the two white children entrusted to her care. I treasured the quilt & have kept it all these years in loving memory of her.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1870-1880
maker
West, Betty
ID Number
TE.T17773.00A
accession number
315496
catalog number
T17773A

1840 - 1860 Slothower Family's Appliqued Quilt

Also known as the “Seamstresses’ Quilt,” this red and green example of mid-19th century quilting was in the George Slothower family of Baltimore County, Maryland. He was a wholesale dry goods merchant and the owner of two cotton mills: the Powhatan and Pocahontas Mills.
Description
Also known as the “Seamstresses’ Quilt,” this red and green example of mid-19th century quilting was in the George Slothower family of Baltimore County, Maryland. He was a wholesale dry goods merchant and the owner of two cotton mills: the Powhatan and Pocahontas Mills. Apparently at the time this quilt was crafted, resident seamstresses, usually of German or Dutch origin, made the family clothing and most likely this quilt.
The center basket of flowers is framed by floral-and-leaf panels and borders, each accented with red saw-tooth bands. Echo quilting highlights each of the motifs on this appliquéd quilt.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840-1860
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T17989
accession number
323475
catalog number
T17989

1780 - 1820 Wool Quilt

This green wool quilt, crafted in the late 18th-early 19th century has a lovely quilted motif of a large tree with flowers and branches stitched in feathered arcs reaching from the bottom edge of the quilt almost to the top.
Description
This green wool quilt, crafted in the late 18th-early 19th century has a lovely quilted motif of a large tree with flowers and branches stitched in feathered arcs reaching from the bottom edge of the quilt almost to the top. The tree is flanked by two long curving feathered vines and framed by bands of feathered quilting on the edges. Background quilting of parallel lines sets off the motif. Quilting is 6 stitches per inch.
Plain-weave green wool is used for the top, yellow plain-weave wool for the lining. The filling is wool as is both the sewing and quilting threads. This Massachusetts quilt by an unknown maker is a beautiful example of whole cloth wool quilting.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1780-1820
maker
unknown
ID Number
TE.T247178.003
accession number
247178
catalog number
T247178.003

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

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