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The Rochester Museum & Science Center's quilt collection
had been in storage for many years, and the general
knowledge of it had gradually slipped from the public's
view. This changed when the Susan B. Anthony quilt was
exhibited several years ago, and the Genesee Valley Quilt
Club created a replica of it as a gift to the Susan B.
Anthony House. The Club's interest in the Museum's quilt
collection grew, and its members voted to support efforts
to improve the storage conditions of a number of quilts
through financial donations. The collaboration expanded
into a program in which volunteers from the Quilt Club work
with Museum staff to document and improve the storage
conditions for this significant collection. The
collaboration has evolved due in large part to the Club's
desire to contribute to the "unknown" resource of
historical quilts spanning two centuries -- a treasure in
its own right -- and to explore the possible relationship of
local genesis of the women's suffrage movement in the
region.
The efforts to date of the combined GVQC Club members and
the Museum staff have resulted in significant progress in
improving the care and increasing the awareness of this
tremendous resource that the community has entrusted to the
RMSC.
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