Quilt Stories from the Museum of Texas Tech University
Quilt Stories from the Museum of Texas Tech University
Dr. Marian Ann J. Montgomery, Ph.D., Curator of Clothing and Textiles at the Museum of Texas Tech University shares images of vintage quilts from their collection and tells their fascinating stories.
Art Quilts by Ellie Kreneck Enter Collection
Generous donations by Ellie Kreneck of her West Texas art quilts as well as the recent purchase of a quilted Haori coat by Yvonne Porcella form the base of what is hoped will be a growing collection of Art Quilts in the Museum’s Collection. While it is difficult to collect pieces that haven’t yet stood the test of time, it is important to acquire these pieces while artists are still alive to provide information about their creations.
Baskets from Oklahoma
Basket quilts are charming, fun, and endearing. But they become so much more when a mother sources the fabrics from the clothing of her children. The resulting quilt becomes a much loved family treasure.
Cousin Quilt Shares History with Last Comanche Chief
This 1880s red and white Rocky Mountain Road quilt certainly fit the bill for beauty and excellent workmanship. Research in the files uncovered a wonderful history about the quilt maker and a recent visit by descendants of the maker added even more interesting facts about the life of this stunning quilt.
Dallas Quilter Collector
Although you may consider yourself primarily a quilter, sometimes you will find that you have museum-worthy quilts that can be donated to a museum. One such quilter is Pam Joiner of the Dallas, Texas area who donated three quilts from her collection to the Museum of Texas Tech University.
Discovering a Quilter's Work
A great deal of research was done regarding the maker of the pattern, Crossroads to Bachelor’s Hall, for the 2016 quilt exhibit, Legacy of a Thousand Stitches. When the research began we knew only that she was Mrs. R. P. Price, the maternal grandmother of Robert Fee and that we had two of her quilts in the collection.
Double Knit Quilts
Double knit quilts were made in the 1970s as part of the quilt revival around America’s bicentennial celebration. Early American quilters made quilts using scraps left over from sewing for their families. In the 1970s this meant using double knit fabrics.
Duck Hunting Season
Take a look at two different "duck" quilts featuring Mountain Mist patterns and learn a bit about their history.
Early Needlework Tools Exhibition
Learn about Sumptuous Stitches and Tiny Treasures, an exhibit at the Museum of Texas Tech University.
Feed Sack Quilt from Dallas Area
Sometimes a lovely donation comes into the Museum with little or no information as to its original maker or occasion for the piece, as the quilt was purchased at an estate sale or auction. One of these “orphan” quilts was exhibited as part of the feed sack exhibit, Cotton and Thrift: Feed Sacks and the Fabric of American Households, at the Museum of Texas Tech University.
Feed Sack Quilts
Today the collection of feed sack materials at the Museum of Texas Tech University numbers over 6,000 items and is likely the largest collection of these materials in public hands.