The International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) was formed in 1997 as a result of the generous gift of nearly 950 quilts from the Ardis & Robert James Collection, along with a substantial pledge of financial support.
Many factors influenced Robert and Ardis James' decision to donate their quilt collection to UNL. Bob James grew up in Ord, Nebraska and Ardis James grew up in Lincoln, so both had Nebraska ties. This connection to Nebraska made the University a natural consideration as a future home for their collection.
Another factor influencing the James' decision was the book, Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers (Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1991). The book is the result of the Nebraska statewide documentation project initiated by the Lincoln Quilters Guild. The quilters contacted the UNL Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design for assistance. The book documents highlights of the project and has been a quilt best-seller.
When "Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers" won the Smithsonian's Frost Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in American Crafts in 1993, it caught the James' attention. The James were also impressed by Nebraska's strong grass roots support for what they thought a quilt center might be. They knew that Nebraska had a strong quiltmaking tradition that had continued into the present, evidenced by the success of the successful statewide documentation project.
An additional factor contributing to the James' decision to donate their collection included the fact that UNL was willing to accept all of their quilts. It was vitally important to them to keep the collection intact as they had built it to include the entire gamut of worldwide quiltmaking traditions. Another important consideration was that the Department of Textiles, Clothing & Design, academic home of the IQSC, had a strong textile history graduate program.
As a result of the James' generosity and vision, the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was formed. The Center's mission is to collect, preserve, study, exhibit, and promote discovery of quilts and quiltmaking traditions from many cultures, countries, and times.
Today the International Quilt Study Center collection totals over 2300 quilts. (Visit the COLLECTIONS section for detailed information on the collection.) The Center is a leader in quilt studies, and has produced the following publications: "Masterpiece Quilts from the James Collection" (Nihon Vogue, 1998), "A Flowering of Quilts" (University of Nebraska Press, 2001), "Amish Crib Quilts from the Midwest" (GoodBooks, 2003) and "Wild by Design: Two Hundred Years of Innovation and Artistry in American Quilts" (University of Washington Press, 2003).
