Speaking of Quilts

This special exhibit featured the special place that quilts hold in people’s hearts and minds. Presented in 2014, Speaking of Quilts: Voices from the Collection and the Community, highlighted quilts from the Kansas Historical Society, and included additional pieces.

Why do we have such strong ties with quilts? Maybe it is the time and talent needed to create a quilt. Or maybe it is the special occasion for which it was made or received. Because of these connections quilts become a remarkable record, or “voice,” of the past. This exhibit provided a glimpse into Kansas history through a wide variety of quilts and the women who made them.

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quilt from Nicodemus'> Love Apple quilt from Nicodemus

The quilts were arranged in five categories:

Best of the Block: Competition quilts - Nowhere in the country was there a more influential group of quilters than the women living in and around Emporia in the 1930s.

Outside the Block: Non-traditional quilts - Who says a quilt has to be the size of a bed?

Inside the Block: Traditional quilts - These are the quilts most people think of when they hear the word “quilt.”

Block Party: Community quilts - Quilts and quilting bees are synonymous with the word community.

Blocks of Time: History quilts - Few quilters set out to intentionally record a historical event.

Around the Block: Interactive area

Speaking of Quilts Vote Tally

Visitors to the exhibit voted on “Best of Show.”

February

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