A well-researched and strategically targeted collections plan guides the acquisitions activity of the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. A committee chaired by the Curator of Collections works year round to seek out and evaluate quilts of merit. These quilts are then considered by the committee. Decisions are based on documentation of the quiltmaker, date and location made, the historic value of the quilt, the fit of the quilt in the collection, the condition of the quilt, and the outlined collecting goals of the Center.
Major collections include:
- The Ardis and Robert James Collection of Antique and Contemporary Quilts
- The Robert and Helen Cargo Collection of African-American Quilts
- The Jonathan Holstein Collection, including the 1971 Whitney Museum Exhibition quilts
- The Sara Miller Collection of Midwestern Amish Crib Quilts
- The Kathryn Berenson Collection of French Quilts
- The Linda and Dr. John Carlson Four Block Quilt Collection
In addition to the collections listed at left, holdings include works of contemporary artists Deidre Amsden, Pauline Burbidge, Dorothy Caldwell, Nancy Crow, Radka Donnell, Chris Wolf Edmonds, Michael James, Terrie Hancock Mangat, Ruth McDowell, Jan Myers-Newbury, Ellen Oppenheimer, Emily Richardson, Faith Ringgold, Barbara Watler and others.
There are currently 24 different nations represented by quilts in the collection. This is an area of special focus as we work toward our goal of collecting, preserving and sharing quilts from all cultures, locations and eras.
