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Album Quilts: a Look At These Fascinating Signature Quilts
By Laurette Carroll
Quilt Maker
Quilt Collector and Quilt Historian

During the mid 1980's when I was just a new quilter, my daughter and I attended a play titled "The Quilters," at a community playhouse. The play was well done and I enjoyed it immensely, especially since my daughter, who was taking a college course in the Arts at the time and needed to attend a number of theater productions, had picked this play and invited me because of my new interest in quilts. However, looking back, the highlight of our evening out, was not the play, but rather what I discovered during the intermission, when I went out to the lobby. In the lobby were glass display cases on the walls, and one of the cases contained an exhibit of quilt related items. Hanging in this case was a small quilt with a top made up of squares of appliquéd floral designs. As I looked closely I could see that each square was signed with a different name, and that the signatures were those of the quilt makers who had made the quilt blocks. I then realized that a group of friends had pooled their talents and made quilt blocks, or the entire quilt, for the recipient or owner of the quilt. That was my first introduction to the genre of quilts called Album quilts, (sometimes called Friendship quilts). Even today, I can remember the sense of wonder I felt as I studied that quilt. The quilt itself was beautiful with each square a different design, but it was the signatures of the block makers, which made the quilt special. I felt that to own a quilt that so many women had worked on, would be a great privilege. That night was the beginning of a quest to learn as much as I could about these quilts. While researching these wonderful quilts I have grown to love these textile artifacts representing the relationships between women. Album quilts were not just quilts made for warmth and/or beauty, but rather they were, and are, made with love and affection with the primary purpose of expressing that sentiment to the recipient. They will forever display how the art of quilt making was used to create a tactile representation of that love. Since that evening at the theatre, so many years ago, I have participated in many Friendship groups and been a part of the making of many Album quilts. As I have sought out vintage and antique quilts to study, I have been fortunate to add a few of these wonderful quilts to my quilt collection. They remain very special quilts to me, and although they display the names of women who lived long ago, Album quilts still speak of the love between the women who created them, and the honored recipients.

This Album or Friendship quilt top, was made in a variation of the Mariners Compass pattern in the 1840's or 1850's. A wide assortment of Turkey Red prints from the time period make up the complicated pieced patterned blocks. A close-up of one of the wonderful Turkey Red prints used in the quilt top. A four patch quilt, signed and dated 1841. This quilt was made by a six year old girl and signed by her mother and grandmothers. A close-up of the four patch quilt, with grandma's signature. Another close-up of the four patch quilt showing great grandmothers signature.

A History of Album Quilts

The term "Signature quil" describes a quilt that contains signatures. Under that heading are several types of quilts, often made with different purposes. Sometimes this is easy to determine, but at other times it is not so apparent. Occasionally a quilt was made with more than one purpose, and so distinctions are hard to make. Quilt historians have separated these signature quilts into groups, distinguished by the occasion upon which the quilt was made.

The first Album quilts date back to about 1840, and quilt historians feel they are associated with the autograph books or albums that were popular at the time. Girls and boys, as well as young men and women, owned small autograph books and liked to gather the signatures of friends and acquaintances. Often those signing the pages of these books included prose or artwork along with their signatures. During this period new ink formulas were being introduced, and it was believed that these new inks were less caustic to fabrics than those previously available, although that has not always proven true. While most Album quilts were made by and for women, we do find a sprinkling of men's signatures on older quilts. Whether they simply penned their names to blocks presented for their signature or actually participated in the construction of the blocks can't be ascertained after all these years. Therefore, while I speak of Album quilts as being made by women, men are a part of the history of these wonderful quilts. One of the oldest traditions in quilt making is quilting with family members or friends. Friendship quilts, as we know them today are described as being made by a group of three or more people. In the broadest sense, this is true, but for the purposes of this article, I will only speak of those quilts that also contain the names of the makers. Perhaps the most popular reason to make an Album quilt was because a family member or friend was moving away from the area. The recipients were presented with a finished quilt, or perhaps a quilt top or a set of signature blocks, to take with them, made by their friends or family, as a remembrance of loved ones at home. This was at a time when traveling long distances was difficult, and many loved ones moved away and seldom or never returned home to see their families again. When someone in the community was to be honored, they might have been presented with a Presentation quilt. These Presentation quilts were made by the quilt recipients' friends, or social acquaintances, and were presented to a prominent or popular figure. A recipient might be a church pastor or his wife, a favorite school teacher, a doctor, or a respected social figure. Bridal Album quilts were given to brides upon marriage. Quilt blocks were made and gathered, then sewn into quilts, and presented to the bride. Or sometimes Album quilts were given to the marrying couple as a wedding gift. These Wedding quilts may have been made by friends and the members of both the bride's and groom's families. Occasionally the quilt was given to the Groom, the grooms family and friends, presenting him with his own token of remembrance. When a young man reached his 21st birthday he might have been given a Freedom quilt. This was an important event to a young man, signifying he had reached his majority, and was ready to leave home and accept the responsibilities and privileges of an independent man. His family and friends might have celebrated with him by making him a quilt. Some Album quilts were made simply to gather signatures of family and friends, just as they are made today. One variation of the Album quilt is the quilt that is made by one person, usually the owner, and then passed between friends to be signed. In this way the owner of the quilt will have a remembrance of his or her friends. Many wedding quilts have been made, using already constructed blocks that were passed around during a wedding celebration, and later set together into a quilt to be presented to the happy couple. I have seen a type of quilt that I call a celebrity quilt, where the signatures of politicians and film actors were sought out and gathered together and incorporated into a quilt. Often the quiltmaker sent letters to the celebrities, containing a blank piece of fabric, and asked that they be signed and mailed back to the quiltmaker.

A Mariner's Compass quilt, with signatures and dates from the 1840's. Inscriptions indicate several locations, including Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Bible verses are written on some of the blocks and several blocks contain prose. Blocks are made from a variety of Turkey Red prints, and overdyed green prints. Close-up with a signed block dated 1844. Another close-up of a block dated 1847 from Enterprise PA. The maker of this block sends a prayer for the recipient. The inks used in this quilt have not damaged the fabrics, even though it seems several different inks were used. A selection of autograph album books from the 1800's. A page from an album book with the following inscription. "To Maud May you be happy, And live at your ease, And have a good husband, To scold when you please. (And signed) Remember your true friend and schoolmate, Julia...." The location of Los Angeles, Cal. is written in the corner. A romantic inscription is written in this book from 1882. "If you love me As I love you, No knife could cut Our love in two (signed)Rand Allen" San Francisco, California. This album book signer has included a fine drawing with her signature.

Album or Friendship quilts, were made with a special recipient in mind, while another type of Signature quilt, the Fundraising quilt, was made to raise funds. Often with antique quilts, the history of the quilt has been lost and we are not exactly sure what the purpose of making the quilt was, but generally speaking, we can determine if it was an Album or Friendship quilt, or if it was a Fundraising quilt. Fundraising quilts were made to raise money for an organization or charity endeavor, most often a church. For a monetary contribution, your signature or name would be applied to the quilt, along with the names of other contributors. These quilts are recognizable by the dozens or even hundreds of signatures on the quilt. Often the signatures are the only design elements on the quilts. There are also times when an Album quilt is used to raise funds, so as with other signature quilts, it may be hard to distinguish the real purpose of the quilt.

There were many reasons for making an Album quilt, and I include the most obvious occasions here. Additionally, they have been made for the last 160 years, and surely there are reasons that are simply unknown to us now.

Pieced blocks in stars and pinwheels are signed in the 1840's in this quilt top.	</div> This block is signed by a gentleman, an unusual occurrence, but not rare.	Close-up of a block showing the 1846 date. Notice the wonderful prints, typical of this period.
This is an unusual bluework quilt from 1901. A variety of motifs, including flowers, children, and phrases, make up the dozens of blocks in this quilt. The quilt contains embroidered names of cities from all over the world.	A poem is embroidered in this block.	Floral block signed by Blanch from Santa Barbara.

The Making of a Album Quilt

Album quilts were a community effort. Organized by one or two individuals who set up the guidelines for the pattern and quilt style, and who took responsibility for asking the recipients' friends cooperation in making the blocks, and in gathering the finished blocks and seeing to the completion of the quilt. Sometimes the recipient received a finished quilt and at other times received only the signed quilt top or a group of signed quilt blocks. Usually a group of 20 to 30 or more people would make blocks and a few members of the group would put the blocks together with backing and batting and the quilt would then be quilted. If only a top or blocks were presented, the recipient's friends often helped her with the sewing and quilting by gathering together for a social work day or two in order to complete the quilt. Patterns used for Album quilts vary. Virtually any quilt pattern with a place to sign ones name could be used for an Album quilt. Some Album quilts are made with the same pattern throughout and are referred to as "single pattern" Album quilts. Other quilts are made up of a variety of pieced and/or appliquéd blocks, and these are called "sampler" Album quilts. Some of the most popular quilt patterns used in these quilts are Chimney Sweep and Snowflake (often called Album block). Sometimes an applique pattern was used, the Oak Leaf and Reel variations, for example. However, quiltmakers used any number of quilt patterns and one may see signatures on four or nine patch quilts, Basket quilts, Star quilts, Rolling Stone quilts, Birds in the Air quilts, Mariners Compass quilts, Dresden Plate quilts, and Sunbonnet Sue quilts. Occasionally Crazy quilts were used as Album quilts, and because of the plethora of fancy fabrics and embellishments, the signatures almost go unnoticed. Some of the earlier Album quilts are the most elaborate, with a plethora of complex applique and/or pieced blocks and elaborate quilting. Popularly called Baltimore Album Quilts these quilts are some of the most unique and valuable quilts made in the 19th Century. Because the blocks themselves are so glorious the signatures are almost insignificant, until that is, one begins to look at the history or provenance of the quilt. Many of these quilts hold a treasure trove of information for the genealogist or quilt documenter.

A set of blocks made in the "Hands All Around" pattern, from the 1930's. A quilt top from the 1930's made in a daisy pattern. A nice variety of floral fabrics from the period make up the flowers. Daisy block signed and dated 1934. A wonderful yellow and green print in this block from a quilt dated 1841. Interesting fabrics in this blocks from an 1860's quilt top.

The fabrics in Album quilts are dictionaries of the fabrics available to the quiltmaker at that particular time. Fabrics used in these quilts can be a fabric collectors dream, ranging from early 19th Century chintz and rainbow prints to silk velvets and ribbons in luscious colors. Quilters often provided their own fabrics when making these quilt blocks, and often used a fabric of special significance to them. For example, a quiltmaker might use a fabric that had been used to make a wedding dress, or a fabric used in a dress in the bride's trousseau. Occasionally, the organizer of the quilt would supply one or more of the fabrics, so the quilt would have a more unified look. We see this frequently in 20th Century quilts. Often only the quilt blocks were given to the recipient, and she would put the blocks together into a quilt, using her own fabrics for the other elements of the quilt. Other times she received a completed quilt top and supplied the backing fabric herself.

Signatures on Album Quilts Signature techniques vary, some methods were used more often than others and over time, depending on the era in which the quilts were made, some previously popular techniques faded from use. Inked signatures have been the most popular through out the years and may be found in quilts of any age. Earlier blocks are sometimes signed or initialed in cross stitched lettering, and these cross stitched signatures can be found in quilts until about 1890. In quilts from the late 1800's and later, longhand signatures might be written by means of embroidery. About the turn of the 20th Century and thereafter, the signature is apt to be embroidered in colored thread. About 25 years ago, Album quilts began to enjoy renewed popularity and these quilts are still likely to be signed in embroidery, or with the newer ink pens which again promise to be non corrosive to fabrics. While most signatures were written in longhand, some names were neatly hand printed on blocks. At other times the names were printed with small metal dyes or stamps with the quilt maker's name, in an ink and stamp method. Stenciled names can still be found on some mid 19th Century blocks. Women purchased metal stencils with their names cut in, and used them for writing their names on household linens and clothing or other needlework and they also used them to sign their quilt blocks. Sometimes blocks were turned in without signatures, but the blocks would be accompanied with slips of paper signed by the block maker. Apparently the names were to be copied onto the quilt blocks by a more steady hand. Occasionally, a professional scriber added the names to the blocks, sometimes adding artwork along with the signatures. These are some of the most elaborately inscribed quilts, and are wonderful quilts to read and study. Many quilt makers signed their blocks and added their own artwork done in ink, along with their signatures. Similar artwork can be seen in friendship album books of the 19th and early 20th century. Signers of these books often sketched in little landscapes next to their signatures. Others added elaborately inked frames for their signatures. Most makers of early Album quilts were from affluent families, where the women would have had access to a fair amount of education. But what of the 19th Century quilt makers who had little education and didn't know how to write or sign their name? I have seen a quilt dated 1842 with squares marked with an inked X, and I have to wonder if these were "signatures" by those quilt makers who could not sign their name. Of course there is no way to be sure of that now, so many years after the quilt was made.

A Pennsylvania quilt in the Rolling Stone pattern is made of blocks signed in cross stitch embroidery, and dated 1880. Close-up showing the lettering. A Friendship quilt made in the Shoofly pattern from Vermont. Close-up of block from the shoofly quilt showing signature that has been written with a stencil. Another close-up with a stenciled name, this one with a ribbon like frame. The makers of these blocks didn't sign the blocks themselves, but sent their signatures, so that names could be added to the blocks. Perhaps they were unsure of their penmanship and left the application of the names to someone else. Small slips of paper with signatures still readable, from this quilt from the 1860's.

The woman who signed this block framed her signature with floral artwork.

A similar frame from an album book dated 1882.

Album Quilts in Recent Years Today, Album quilts are made for the same reasons they were made a hundred or more years ago. Many are still made by the members of a guild or friendship group, and often for the same reasons, as a gift to an honored recipient. Sometimes family members will make the bride a quilt as a wedding gift, or perhaps a new mother will receive a quilt for the new baby signed by family or friends. Church pastors are still given quilts made by the ladies of the church, and presidents of quilt guilds are often given quilts made by the guild members. We have seen many Friendship groups being formed in recent years with the primary purpose of making Album quilt blocks. This is the Friendship group made up of 12 members that meets monthly, their chief goal, besides spending time with friends, is to make blocks for everyone in the group so that the members of the group each have a set of blocks at the end of the year. These groups continue to meet year after year, with people sometimes dropping out and new quilters joining. Over the years the friendships grow, and the women members become the closest of friends. While there have been many groups in the past, who met regularly and made quilts for each other, generally speaking, they were not organized in quite the way the present day Friendship groups are, nor were they completely dedicated to this purpose of making Album or Friendship blocks. The previous groups usually met with the purpose of doing charity work of some type or another, but the generous spirit of these groups often lead to making a quilt for a friend when the opportunity or need arose. The system most often used by these modern day Friendship groups is the "box" system. Each member of the group will choose a pattern and pick out her fabrics, and these, along with any directions needed, will be put into a box. These boxes will be carried to monthly meetings, and exchanged between members, to be taken home so the block can be made during the month, and returned with the box to the next month's meeting. At the end of the year the boxes will have traveled to each member of the group and returned to the owner with all of the blocks that were made during the year. Amusingly, this method, while sounding very simple, can lead to many lively discussions each month, regarding who has had this or that box already, and who takes which box with them this month. And of course someone who can't attend a meeting will have to get the box to the meeting or mail it to the next recipient in line for it, or she will hear about it next month! A more organized system, in my opinion, is one where each member is assigned a month of the year, (usually the month that the group meets in her home) and she passes out a kit, containing the pattern and directions and often including fabrics, to all the members of the group at that time. The kits are taken home and the completed blocks are brought to the meeting the next month, and the owner will then have her set of blocks all done (theoretically that is, because life can interfere with the best of plans). At that same meeting another kit is passed out by the next person in line, and this continues through out the year, and again, at the end of the year, members have a set of blocks made by the group. In another type of Friendship group the members of the group will decide on a common quilt project for the year. The group picks a quilt pattern, and fabrics are chosen or agreed upon, and the members will work on making these blocks during the year. All blocks are to be completed and exchanged with group members at the end of that year. This can also make for a lively meeting or two, while agreeing on a pattern and fabrics that everyone likes. One of the joys of belonging to a quilt group or guild is taking part in the guilds projects. In one activity, called a Block Party, a pattern is handed out to the participants, the quilters make the quilt blocks, then all the blocks are put together, and a name is drawn for the lucky winner of all the blocks. The number of blocks won, depends on the size of the group. Blocks are usually kept simple to encourage participation. Many Album quilts have come from these Block Parties. Another type of Album quilt is made in a Round Robin. Blocks are made and mailed around the country. In the past willing participants were often found through requests in magazine ads, but today many round robins are organized through online quilt groups. In one type of round robin quilt, the quilt is actually made as it passes from one person to another, with each person adding a different element to the quilt, until it returns to the owner.

Album quilt from the 1990's made from a variety of signed floral applique blocks. Photo shows a close-up of one of the applique blocks from the album quilt. A group of small baskets, make up this quilt from the 1990's. Signed Sunbonnet Sue blocks make up this crib sized quilt. Sweet little Sue in this block. See small signature right under skirt. This 1990's quilt is the result of a contest held at a local quilt shop. Contestants entered blocks with a Christmas theme and the winner took the completed quilt top home. This is one of the pieced blocks from the contest quilt. Another Friendship quilt made with a Christmas theme, this one is made from simply pieced trees. This is the result of a block party form a quilt guild. This is a nice set of 30 floral applique blocks still waiting to be set together, that were made in a friendship group that meets monthly.

This block was made in an exchange with an Australian quilter. Block design show an Australian fairy like creature, or bush baby, called a gumnut baby.

Pieced blocks make up this quilt from the 1988. The pattern is named Friendship Quilt among others.

This block shows signature and date of 1988.

In Conclusion

In this short and therefore incomprehensive article on Album quilts, I have tried to explain the significant traits of these quilts, made by friends and family and given in friendship.

It has been almost 20 years since I saw my first Album quilt, and these wonderful textile artifacts continue to fascinate and endear themselves to me. Although I will never have the pleasure of meeting the ladies who made the older Album quilts I have come across, I can certainly still see their love and friendship, written and memorialized in cloth and thread forever, in these wonderful quilts called Album Quilts.


For more reading on Album quilts see the following books.

Clues in the Calico by Barbara Brackman, 1989, EPM Publications Inc.

Forget Me Not, A Gallery of Friendship and Album Quilts by Jane Bentley Kolter, 1985, The Main Street Press.

Remember Me, Women and Their Friendship Quilts by Linda Otto Lipsett, 1985, The Quilt Digest Press.


Laurette Carroll
Quilt Historian and Collector, and Quilt Maker, Living in Southern California.

Quilts from the collection of Laurette Carroll
Photographs by Laurette Carroll

Copyright 2003 by Laurette Carroll