NewsLetter
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Our purpose is to inspire understanding of the social, cultural, and artistic significance of African-American quilts. Our goal is to document, research, and preserve African-American quilt history through data collection and collaboration with local, state, and national societies, museums and universities.
in this issue >>>
- A Season of Growth and Connection
- Virtual Training Seminar Recap
- BAMPFA Exhibit – Routed West: 20th Century African American Quilts in California
- AAQDSG Welcomes Digital Archive Intern
We are thrilled to present the first issue of our newsletter, dedicated to celebrating and preserving African American quilting traditions. Our study group is committed to documenting the unique stories, techniques, and cultural significance embedded in African American quilts.
Quilting has long served as a medium through which African American women—and men—have expressed creativity, resilience, and community bonds. Each quilt holds a piece of history, stitching together threads of personal and collective narratives across generations. Through this newsletter, we aim to share more than just documentation events and quiltmakers stories – we will also highlight the historical significance of African American quilts and our ongoing efforts to conserve them. Our mission is to honor and preserve these legacies and ensure their continued presence for future generations.
A’donna L. Richardson
Director, AAQDSG
Director, AAQDSG
A SEASON OF GROWTH AND CONNECTION
The first half of 2025 has been both exciting and full of momentum.
AAQDSG was honored to speak at several events focused on African
American quilt legacies and the significance of African American guilds. We
also hosted our first virtual Quilt Documentation Training Seminar for African American guilds. As we look ahead to the
second half of the year, we’re thrilled to continue our documentation efforts in Berkeley, CA, for the Routed West exhibit,
and in Altlanta, GA at the Atlanta Quilt Festival. This Fall, we will be reaching out to the African American Heritage
Community in Las Vegas, NV.
QUILT DOCUMENTATION TRAINING SEMINAR FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILT GUILDS – RECAP
Historically underrepresented and often overlooked, the African American quilt community has remained largely
disconnected from mainstream quilt history and documentation efforts. In March of this year, AAQDSG offered a virtual
introductory quilt documentation training seminar specifically designed for African American quilt guilds. We were honored
to feature distinguished speakers: Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi (Women of Color Quilting Network), Dr. Tracy Vaughn-Manley
(Northwestern University), and Dr. Elaine Yau (Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive). Participants were also
introduced to AAQDSG’s key collaborative partners—the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) and the Quilt Alliance (QA),
both of who’s support was instrumental to the success of this event. Seminar sessions included presentations on quilt
history, textiles, fabric dating, and the quilt documentation process, including how to complete and submit documentation
forms.
© 2025 The Griot’s Tea, AAQDSG. All rights reserved. | www.aaqdsg.com
We heard your voices through our post-seminar survey, and your input is actively shaping our future work. The insights gathered will inform future seminar development, helping us refine our approach by prioritizing and integrating top-rated topics of interest. These efforts will ensure our programming continues to meet the evolving needs of our community in meaningful and productive ways.
EXHIBITION - ROOTED WEST: 20TH CENTURY AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTS IN CALIFORNIA
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) June 8 – November 30, 2025
Curated by Dr. Elaine Yau, this exhibit explores the legacy of African American quilt making during the Second Great Migration (1940–1970), when millions of African Americans moved westward seeking opportunity and escape from the South’s racial oppression. The quilts traveled with these migrants, carrying memories, cultural knowledge, and artistic traditions passed down through generations. The exhibition highlights how these traditions flourished in California, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, giving rise to a vibrant quilt making movement.
Featuring approximately 115 quilts by 80 artists, many with roots in the southern states, Routed West draws entirely from the African American quilt collection at the BAMPFA. Accompanied by an illustrated catalog and new scholarship, the exhibition positions these quilts as powerful expressions of African American cultural heritage and vital contributions to American art history. See more at: https://bampfa.org/event/exhibition-tour-routed-west-twentiethcentury-african-american-quilts-california
Follow AAQDSG:
Quilt Documentation Day at
BAMPFA, Berkeley, CA –
June 28, 2025
Quilter’s Hall of Fame –
Laural Horton! Marion, IN –
July 16 – 19, 2025
Quilt Documentation Days at
Atlanta Quilt Festival, Atlanta, GA –
August 21 – 24, 2025
Fabrics of Faith Quilt Retreat,
Seabeck, WA –
September 3 – 8, 2025
AQSG Conference,
Portland, ME,
October 15 – 19, 2025
African American Heritage
Community, Las Vegas, NV –
October 23 – 28, 2025
Quilt Documentation Day at
BAMPFA, Berkeley, CA –
November 23, 2025
WELCOME OUR DIGITAL ARCHIVE INTERN
Lola joined us in February as a UC Berkeley graduate student to support our digital archive. Her work has streamlined processes and improved the overall quality and reach of the African American Quilt Registry & Archive. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Wesleyan University, where she wrote a thesis on Angelenos’ relationships with cars and freeway infrastructure. Her background includes cultural analysis in market research and fieldwork in Spain on public space use. Lola’s interests span collective memory, heritage, infrastructure, and cultural preservation. At Berkeley, she explores how Folklore connects humanities theories with urban studies. We’re grateful for her dedication and the impact she continues to make. Welcome, Lola!
SNEAK PEEK: Documentation Day at BAMPFA was a total success!!
In Photo (L to R):
Julie Silber (AQSG)
Quilt Owner
Loretta Henry (AAQGO)
Marsha Carter (AAQGO)
Patricia Bailey (AAQGO)
Rebecca Clewett (AQSG)
Background:
Elaine Yau (BAMPFA Curator)
Julie Widholm (BAMPFA
Director) and A’donna
Contact Us
African American Quilt Documentation Study Group
P.O. Box 210638
San Francisco, CA 94121
AAQDSG@gmail.com
AfAmQuiltDoc@gmail.com (For Documentations)
https://www.aaqdsg.com
© 2025 The Griot’s Tea, AAQDSG. All rights reserved. | www.aaqdsg.com
