The events give visitors a chance to view the famous Susan Robb quilt from the Civil War era and document their own quilts.
Since January, visitors to the Museum of Texas Tech University have viewed more than 40 antique quilts in the Legacy of a Thousand Stitches exhibit. Each quilt was chosen from a museum collection of more than 300 quilts.
This week, museumgoers will have a chance not only to see even more of that collection, they will also be able to document their own pieces of history.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday (April 7), visitors can attend the museum's bed-turning event and examine an additional portion of the quilt collection featured in the exhibition catalog.
“The bed-turning will be a terrific opportunity to see the 56 quilts that are not on exhibit due to space constraints,” said Marian Ann Montgomery, curator of clothing and textiles at the museum. “I will discuss each one and attendees will be able to see the quilts up close.”
Montgomery said attendees will see the famous Susan Robb quilt, which she called the most important quilt in the Museum's collection.
“It wasn't included in the exhibit because it was in Los Angeles at the Autry Museum of Western Culture,” Montgomery said. “This very important quilt is one of the very few that survives and expresses the Confederate conviction that they would win the Civil War. The quilt seldom comes out for viewing, so this will be a very special opportunity.”
From 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (April 9), quilt owners are invited to attend the first of two quilt documentation days at the museum. Visitors can bring up to four of their own quilts to be documented by Montgomery, who will discuss the quilt's history, date of creation, quilt pattern and name.
“Quilt documentation days are wonderful opportunities for families to visit with a quilt expert to learn more about their pieces and document the quilt maker,” Montgomery said. “The museum is providing this service free of charge so families can better care for their quilted treasures.”
Those who take advantage of the service will receive a seven-page documentation form and a photograph that can be kept with the quilt and shared with future generations. Montgomery said participants also can upload their quilt to The Quilt Index where information will be preserved on an ongoing basis.
A second documentation day will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14. All events will be in the Helen DeVitt Jones Sculpture Court at the museum.
To register for the bed-turning event, there is a $5 registration fee. Registration will occur on the day of the event.
Registration for the quilt-documentation day is free to the public and will take place the day of the event. Appraisals will not be given.
For more information about museum events, visit its website.