Quilts raised money for World War I veterans in U.S. 

By Betsy Anderson
Program Coordinator, United States World War One Centennial Commission

Quilt historian Sue Reich and United States World War I Centennial Commission Commissioner Jack Monahan at the American Legion Convention in Minneapolis.Quilt historian Sue Reich has collected World War I-era quilts from all over the country, and has written a book about them. Commissioner Jack Monahan met Sue at the American Legion’s 100th Convention in Minneapolis and toured an exhibition of the quilts she has collected.  We asked Sue a few questions about the quilts in her collection, and why they were created during WWI.

How did you come to collect World War I quilts?

I began collecting quilts from the World War II era, and published a book about them. Then as the 100th anniversary of the Armistice approached, I decided to collect and exhibit World War I quilts to draw attention to the centennial and to raise funds for veterans’ causes.

What is special about World War I quilts?

Quilts were often made during or after the war to raise money for veterans. A person could donate money and have their name embroidered on the quilt. The quilt would then be raffled, so money was raised both in the making and the selling of the quilt.

Many of the quilts you collected feature the poppy. What do you know about those quilts?

Soldiers generally did not write about the horrors of war, but they wrote letters home about the fields of poppies they saw in France. Women on the home front were familiar with this iconic symbol of World War I, and they incorporated it in their quilts.

What is the most unusual quilt you exhibited at the Legion Convention?

That would be the Word Quilt by Emma Hembree of Cumberland, TN. The quilt features the song “Nearer My God to Thee.” This song was sung at the funerals of veterans from the Civil War and World War I. The quilt, itself, was very difficult to execute in the 6 short weeks in which it was made. The dates are appliqued right on the quilt.

The quilt made from cigar wrappers attracted a lot of attention at the Legion Convention. What do you know about it?

Cigars in the era were sold with silk wrappers, and men often gave them to their wives for use in quilts and other sewing project. This quilt is a good sampler of the colors and designs found on the wrappers.

How do you find quilts to add to your collection?

The world of quilt historians is a small one. I often get alerts from other historians who know I am collecting and refer me to quilts they know about.

How can people find your book?

World War I Quilts is available directly from me through my website at coveringquilthistory.com or from Amazon.com.

Poppy quilt

Hymn quilt