Who’s Documenting the Quiltmakers in Your Community?
By Amy Milne
May 5, 2010
When the Cal-Co Quilters'Guild in Battle Creek, Michigan prepared to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2009 they looked for a community-oriented project that would involve their members and document some of the founders and long-timers in their guild. Member Eleanor Wilkinson heard there was to be a Quilters’ S.O.S. -- Save Our Stories training session offered by longtime Q.S.O.S. volunteer Karen Musgrave at the National Quilting Association’s annual show that year. Remembering a compelling oral history project done by the Smithsonian on clay artists, Eleanor thought the Q.S.O.S. project might allow her guild to document the heritage of quiltmakers in a similar way.
Eleanor and the Cal-Co guild liked the idea of adopting the Q.S.O.S. oral history project in the Battle Creek area and applied for an NQA grant for start up funds. The grant was awarded in 2009 and the South Central Michigan Q.S.O.S. project conducted their first interviews on May 18, 2009. Funding covered the tools necessary to begin conducting interviews--a digital audio recorder and transcription equipment for transcribing the audio into a word processed document.
Pam Schultz and Estella Spates have conducted the nine interviews done so far, passing the recording equipment back and forth as needed. Eleanor has served as the transcriber for all and also handles the submission of materials to the AAQ. The Cal-Co board recently approved funds for an additional recorder and transcription kit, which will allow the group to conduct and transcribe more interviews, and in the future, to invite other guilds in the community to participate.
Far left: Estella Spates interviewed for the South Central Michigan Q.S.O.S. project
Left: Katie Winchell interviewed for the Asheville Quilt Guild Q.S.O.S. project
Pam had a good deal of interview experience, but encourages those with less experience to "Jump in and do it! Getting underway was complicated at first, but it gets easier as you do it. The manual [Q.S.O.S. online manual] is well thought out and explains the process clearly…this has been a gratifying experience." Eleanor enjoys listening to the interviews and getting to know the quiltmakers in her community better and is proud to see the South Central Michigan interviews archived along with the rest of the Q.S.O.S. collection at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. "It’s very satisfying to be a part of this process."
In Asheville, North Carolina another Q.S.O.S. project initiated by a guild is also growing thanks to a small group of committed volunteers and strong support from members of the guild. The Asheville Quilt Guild (AQG) Q.S.O.S. was initiated in 2008 when Alice Helms and two other guild members participated in a free training session offered by phone by Karen Musgrave. The project looked like a good fit for the guild. "Our guild is a large and active group," says Alice. "Western North Carolina has a strong craft tradition and for our guild that means both following traditions and creating traditions, so supporting Q.S.O.S. is a good fit."
At left: Alice Helms, interviewer for the Asheville Quilt Guild Q.S.O.S.
The AQG board approved the purchase of two cassette tape recorders and a transcription machine, and later agreed to cover out-of-pocket expenses for interviewers such as paper, envelopes, tapes and postage, which Alice figures average around $5 per interview. The equipment is shared by dropping it off at each others’ homes or bringing it to guild meetings. Each interviewer does their own transcribing and handles submitting final interview materials to the Alliance for American Quilts.
The Asheville Quilt Guild Q.S.O.S. project has posted over 13 interviews, with 10 conducted by Alice, who says she’s always liked hearing or reading people’s stories. "I’m excited to think that a hundred years from now, someone may read the interviews I’ve done and find them as fascinating as I do. I’m proud to play a small part in preserving our quilting stories." She notes that the project "can be accomplished on a flexible schedule with little upfront investment and a big payoff for everyone involved."
Ready to get started?
Read some interviews to get a feel for the project and the format and flow of the questions. You’ll find a diverse collection—from professional to amateur quiltmakers, from all parts of the country and abroad.
Check out the online Q.S.O.S. manual to get an idea of the project basics—sample interview questions, equipment you’ll need, information and release forms to download, and tips on how to approach potential interviewees.
Talk to your guild or community members to see if there are others who would like to start the project with you. Consider making a proposal to your guild or another community organization for start-up funding.
Find someone to interview. Alice Helms never imagined that she could conduct an interview herself: "I’m much too shy…I was very nervous for the first interview but that has lessened over time. Now I just look for people who are good talkers."
Call on us for help. AAQ staff and volunteers are glad to help you get started if you’re ready to go or just need more information.