Joining together to create a piece of home for residents of a senior living center during the Depression were volunteer members of Royal Neighbors of America® in Alliance, NE. Members’ names and offices are hand-stitched on the colorful quilt which were donated to the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE in 2016.
In the early 1930s the United States was in the midst of the most severe and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world. As is typical for our country when times are difficult, those who are able will rally to help others. Members of Royal Neighbors of America were among those who did their part to ease the burdens caused by the Depression, coming together to create comforting, handmade quilts for residents of a senior living center opened by the organization from 1931-2004. Two of those quilts were accepted in 2016 for display by the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE. The museum is the home of the largest known public collection of quilts in the world, dating from the early 1700s to present and representing more than 60 countries.
One of the quilts was made by volunteers in the State of Michigan. This 9-patch quilt is inscribed with members’ names using a wide variety of Depression-era prints. The second keepsake was created by volunteer members in Alliance, NE, who included members’ names and the offices held in their chapter. Also hand-stitched are embroidered butterflies, flowers, and 21 flower baskets. The quilts, along with many others, are part of a collection of items from Royal Neighbors’ archives. Two additional quilts were accepted for donation by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Quilting holds a special legacy left by women. Each quilt is a remembrance, showcasing not only the art of quilting, but also the deep connections shared by communities like Royal Neighbors. These creations are a testament to how women have always been the “thread” that helps weave together society.
