Quilt documentation event set for March 7 in Lewis County | WV News | wvnews.com

Feb 24, 2025

Quilt No. 80447 is a Double Wedding Ring documented at a recent event.

JANE LEW, W.Va. (WV News) — Quilts made in or residing in West Virginia and made before 1975 can be documented for future generations during the upcoming Lewis County Quilt Retreat on March 7.

The documentation day is part of an ongoing effort to record West Virginia’s quilt artistry and history.

The West Virginia Quilt Documentation Project is sponsored by West Virginia Quilters Inc. (the statewide quilting guild), in collaboration with the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

The quilt documentation is free, but quilt owners need an appointment for the documentation process.

“Among the treasures that West Virginians often talk about and take pride in are their quilts. Taking the time to have Grandma’s quilt photographed and documented for future generations, historians and researchers is a wonderful way to ensure that the story of this quilt is not lost,” said Roberta Gellner, project coordinator.

"Volunteers from across the state examine the quilts and record facts about the quilts and the quiltmakers. The information will be stored in the West Virginia Culture Center Archives as well as in The Quilt Index (www.quiltindex.org), a national database of quilts from across the country," Gellner said.

Well-loved and well-worn quilts, as well as family heirlooms and treasures, are welcome. Quilts with an unknown quiltmaker are also welcome.

People interested in having their quilts documented can make an appointment with Gellner at 304-893-8324.

The project has processed information on more than 600 quilts and their makers since 2016. It is a source of pride for the owners of these quilts to have their quilt information recorded in a national database.

Information about the quilt owners is kept confidential for security, but other quilt information is available for researchers of history and women’s studies and others to view.

Quilts should be brought as they are. Please do not wash, repair or alter a quilt in other ways just for documentation. Details, such as the quiltmaker’s birth date, death date, maiden and married names, are helpful information. Photos of the maker are useful, as well.

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