The Franklin County Quilt Documentation Project

The Chambersburg Quilt Guild has undertaken the  task of documenting the antique quilts of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The Franklin County Quilt Documentation Project consists of photographing and writing a description of quilts either made in or owned by a resident of Franklin Country, Pennsylvania.  Only quilts made before 1950 are included.  Franklin County is primarily a rural area with a rich farming heritage and many families have been here for generations.  The purpose of the documentation is to preserve the quilting tradition, provide owners of antique quilts with information about patterns, fabrics, methods and dates and to provide an outlet for these artistic treasures to be seen and appreciated by a new generation.

The documentation includes several stages.  The first step is the actual documentation – photographing, measuring, and noting the oral history of each quilt. This step is nearly complete with over 900 quilts documented. Later stages include dissemination in the form of an exhibit, presentations to schools and civic groups, and the final jewel: a full-color hardbound book to include approximately 250 of the most significant quilts.

The photographs and descriptions are entered into a database that will be maintained by the Chambersburg Quilt Guild, stored by the Kittochtinny Historical Society and available to students and historians,  with the permission of the documentation committee.