Interview with Mary Perini, October 13, 2001

Interview Summary

Quilt historian, textile dealer, quilt appraiser, and quilter Mary Perini is interviewed about quilts. She discusses the personal and emotional aspects of quilting, including the stories told by quilts which can be found in their stitching and fabrics. She talks about how she became a quilt historian and then a quilter. Perini also discusses the cultural aspects of quilting, particularly in regard to women's history and women's place in society prior to the feminist movements of the 1960s. Perini talks about how the quilts she is currently creating are influenced by her feelings about September 11, 2001, which occurred 32 days prior to this interview taking place.

Interview Keyword

Vintage quilts Quilt making Antique quilts Quilt tops Cultural aspects of quilts Women and quilts Domestic crafts Cult of domesticity 9/11

Interview LC Subject

Women’s history Women in history Quilts Quilting Textiles American women 1600-1900 Needlework Crafts & decorating Textile artists Textile industry September 11 Terrorist Attacks. 2001

Interview Rights

All rights to the Quilters' S.O.S. -- Save Our Stories (QSOS) oral history project, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred from the Quilt Alliance to the University of Kentucky Libraries. Please contact the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History regarding rights pertaining to individual interviews.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.