Since the New England Quilt Museum first opened in 1987, it has worked to
present the finest examples of traditional and contemporary quilts. The
museum is situated on Lowell, Massachusetts, the historic center of the
nation's textile industry as well as the site of the first urban National
Park celebrating that history.
Many of the items in the permanent collection were
acquired through the generosity of donors. It consists of over 200 quilts
and quilt tops representing the history of American quiltmaking. The museum
also collects and preserves quilt-related items such as patterns, quilt tops
and squares, and sewing machines. The permanent collection ranges from whole
cloth quilts made in the late 18th century to contemporary quilts made by
highly regarded art quilters. A selection of quilts from the permanent
collection is always on display in a gallery and period rooms designated for
its collection.
The museum partners with different Lowell public schools
to design quilt projects in conjunction with art, geography, math, or social
studies curriculum and collaborates with home school groups, senior centers
and other area agencies to introduce quilting to students and adults alike.
The museum’s extensive library is open to inquiries from researchers and
those generally interested in quilting in person, by mail, email, or
telephone.
For more information, visit www.nequiltmuseum.org. |
