Comfort and Glory: Two Centuries of American Quilts from the Briscoe Center

Quilts bear witness to the American experience. With a history that spans the early republic to the present day, this form of textile art can illuminate many areas of American life, such as immigration and settlement, the development of our nations textile industry, and the growth of mass media and marketing. In short, each quilt tells a story that is integral to Americas history.

Comfort and Glory introduces an outstanding collection of American quilts and quilt history documentation, the Winedale Quilt Collection at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. This volume showcases 115 quiltsnearly one-quarter of the Winedale Collectionthrough stunning color photographs (including details) and essays about each quilts history and construction. The selections span more than two hundred years of American quiltmaking and represent a broad range of traditional styles and functions. Utility quilts, some worn or faded, join show quilts, needlework masterpieces, and best quilts saved for special occasions. Texas quilts, including those made in or brought to Texas during the nineteenth century, constitute a significant number of the selections. Color photographs of related documents and material culture objects from the Briscoe Centers collectionsquilting templates, a painted brides box, sheet music, a homespun dress, a brass sewing bird, and political ephemera, among themenrich the stories of many of the quilts.