Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories
How to Get Involved with Q.S.O.S.

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The Quilters’ S.O.S. - Save project is a grassroots effort. As of October 2010, over 250 volunteers have served as Q.S.O.S. interviewers starting in 1999, and more than 150 volunteers have served as transcribers. This team of volunteer oral historians have produced more than 1,000 interviews with today's quiltmakers, now permanently archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

To get started as a Q.S.O.S. volunteer:

This YouTube video was prepared as a training resource for "Team Q.S.O.S."--a group of volunteers who conducted Q.S.O.S. interviews at the 2011 International Quilt Festival. While some information here is specifically included for those volunteers, it is a great introduction to Q.S.O.S. interview basics.

How to get started as a Q.S.O.S. interviewer:
Download the Guide for Q.S.O.S. Interviewers, then contact Q.S.O.S. staff to recieve an ID number and final instructions on processing your interviews. To conduct an interview you'll need to have:
-- either a cassette recorder or a digital voice recorder,
-- a camera for taking photos of the interviewee with their touchstone object, usually a quilt that is significant to them
-- tapes and CD's for archiving the recording, transcript and photos,
-- a means to transcribe the interview (or a project partner to do it for you),
--a box of tissues (it's not uncommon for either or both of you to cry a little or a lot)

How to get started as a Q.S.O.S. transcriber
Contact Q.S.O.S. staff if you'd like to put your skills to work to transcribe Q.S.O.S. oral history recordings.
Download the Q.S.O.S. Transcribers Tip Sheet handout.

Find out what it's like to be a Q.S.O.S. Interviewee
Download the Guide for Q.S.O.S. Interviewees.

Share information about Q.S.O.S. with your guild, church, or community group
AAQ staff can send you Q.S.O.S. brochures, a PowerPoint presentation, or, depending on travel required, may be able to schedule a live demonstration and/or workshop for your group. Contact Q.S.O.S. staff.

Do a Q.S.O.S. workshop and live interview in your quilt shop
If you are a quilt shop owner, consider doing a live interview with a visiting teacher or staff member and invite your customers in to watch. Contact Q.S.O.S. staff.

“Like” the AAQ on Facebook to keep up with Q.S.O.S. news and events.

Contact us today to get involved with Q.S.O.S.