Vigo County Historical Society
On-Line Exhibit

Quilts of the Collection
An Overview

The Museum has an extensive collection of beautiful quilts - the count stands at 107 at this time. Because of the limitations of the Museum it is difficult to display our quilts to advantage, so we are pleased to share them with you in this manner. Many in our collection are quite exceptional examples of this wonder art form called "Quilting". The marvelous variety of color and design is endless and the craftsmanship is often astonishing!!

This art form flourished in America for 100 years, from 1775 to 1875 and then began to wane. However, beautiful work continued to be done and today quilting is enjoying a small Renaissance. Thankfully, women are still pursuing the art form so it will not be lost to future generations.

It was said that a young girl should have 13 quilts in her wedding chest before she married. Her last quilt - her most ambitious - she wouldn't quilt herself. This was her "Bride's Quilt" and it was worked in a day by friends and family at a "quilting bee" where all enjoyed each other's company. The men would join the women in the evening and the event became a real social occasion.

A quilt survives that has embroidered on it:

At your quilting, maids don't dally,
A maid who is quiltless at twenty-one,
Never shall greet her bridal sun!

Enjoy the on-line exhibit of quilts of the collection