Just in time for America’s 2026 semiquincentennial, reveals the significance—especially for women—of commemorative quilt making through 250 years of US history.

Quilts were not just lying on beds during America’s history; in fact, they were sewn specifically to celebrate all of the nation’s important birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations.

Quilt historian Sandra Sider’s book explores the history of commemorative quilt making from the 1876 US Centennial to today, showing how it has acted as a tool for preserving stories, bridging cultural divides, and celebrating important moments both local and national—an easily accessible “scrapbook” in cloth.

Includes

overviews of commemorative quilting as it fits in with many of US history’s key time points,
200 photographs showing the history of and striking variations within the quilting art form, and
explanations of how quilt making intersects with sociopolitical eras, such as the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement.

Made by patriotic women early in our country’s history, by today’s most-cutting-edge quilters, and by many other Americans, these quilts help us reinterpret diverse elements of US society, including women’s roles, racial equity, civic pride, and more.

[AuthorName]By Sandra Sider and Foreword by Pamela Weeks[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Sandra Sider, an expert quilt historian, is a past president of Studio Art Quilt Associates and served as curator of the Texas Quilt Museum from 2012 until 2022. She has taught textile history for the MFA Textiles program at Parsons School of Design and elsewhere and has written or edited more than a dozen books concerning contemporary quilt art. sandrasider.com
Foreword writer Pamela Weeks is the Binney Family Curator of the New England Quilt Museum and has written and cowritten several books on quilt history, including Civil War Quilts.[/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]200 color & b/w images[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle]Stitching Our Heritage from 1876 to Today[/SubTitle][ColorPattern]200 color & b/w images[/ColorPattern]

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