Exhibitions

American Quilt Legacy Case: World War II Friendship Quilt

July 4, 2002 – May 18, 2005

National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC

3rd Floor, West Wing, Textiles Hall

See on Map Floor Plan

The American Quilt Legacy case features pieces from the museum's collection on a rotating basis. Current and future quilts are on view as follows:

  • World War II Friendship Quilt
    In the 1940's, Welthea B. Thoday (born in Scituate, Mass. in 1896) asked friends and family members to make the 32 blocks included in this World War II quilt's border. Welthea embroidered the center panel of an American eagle surrounded by 13 stars and a Win-the-War banner, a design copied from a three-cent postage stamp introduced on July 4, 1942. She assembled and finished the quilt years later.