International Quilt Study Center and Museum

The International Quilt Study Center & Museum's mission is to inspire an understanding of the cultural and artistic significance of quilts by collecting, preserving, studying, exhibiting and promoting discovery of quilts and quiltmaking traditions from many cultures, countries and times.

We envision IQSCM as a dynamic center of formal and informal learning and discovery for students, teachers, scholars, artists, quilters and others. Our comprehensive and accessible collection of quilts, related textiles and documents form a primary text for study, insight and inspiration.

IQSCM was founded in 1997 when native Nebraskans Ardis and Robert James donated their collection of nearly 1,000 quilts to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Their contribution became the centerpiece of what is now the largest publicly held quilt collection in the world.

Through private funds from the University of Nebraska Foundation and a lead gift from the James family, the center opened its new location in 2008. The glass and brick, environmentally sustainable building was awarded silver level LEED (Leadership in Energy and environmental Design) certification. See the link below for more information. Quilt House holds more than 3,500 quilts, as well as state-of-the-art research and storage space and custom-crafted galleries.

IQSCM is an academic program of the The Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences at UNL. The Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources also provides support for the research and outreach efforts of the Quilt Center.The department offers a unique masters degree in Textile History with a quilt studies emphasis, which is the only program of its kind in the world.

The plaza sculpture "Reverie" was created by artist Linda Fleming and commissioned by the family of Betty Duncan: Robert Duncan, Dianne Duncan Thomas and Kathryn Duncan.

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