Virtual Exhibit – Signature Quilt Collection
A Common Thread – Signature Quilts of Perth County
The Stratford Perth Museum has a unique collection of 24 signature quilts acquired over the years through donations by individuals or groups who had a direct connection to their origins. Quilts which have names inscribed in ink or embroidery are called signature quilts. All of our signature quilts were made in Perth County by church groups, service clubs, families or groups of friends and neighbours and feature the names of family, friends and supporters. Many paid a small fee to have their names included on it.
The collection’s earliest quilt was stitched in 1881 by the ladies of the South Methodist Church in Stratford. The most current was created in 2000 to commemorate the history of a family in Canada following the arrival of their ancestors in 1870. Several of the quilts reflect the fundraising efforts of groups such as the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) or the Women’s Patriotic Society during the first world war.
Antique signature quilts are important historical documents that provide a glimps into the early days of a community. They fall into different categories according to the purpose for which they were made. Recent exhibits displaying most of the quilts in the collection yielded valuable and relevant information about many of the signatories.
The Museum’s collection includes:
- World War Fundraising Quilts
- Church and Community Quilts
- Family Commemorative Quilts
- School Commemorative Quilts
Click on the images below to access the information on individual quilts.
