Preserving Quilt History with Carolyn Ducey of the International Quilt Museum

What does it take to preserve quilts for future generations?In this episode of the Quilt Scouts Podcast, I’m joined by Carolyn Ducey, former curator of collections at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Carolyn spent 27 years helping grow and care for one of the largest publicly held quilt collections in the world, which now includes around 9,000 quilts and textile objects from across centuries and cultures.We talk about what visitors can expect when they step inside the museum, how quilts are preserved and cared for on an institutional level, and why quilts are such powerful historical documents. Carolyn shares practical advice for preserving quilts at home, including how to protect textiles from light damage, why quilts should be refolded regularly, and why archival storage matters for heirloom pieces.We also dive into the importance of labeling your quilts. Carolyn encourages quilters to document the who, what, where, when, and why behind their quilts so future generations — and future quilt historians — can better understand the stories behind the work.If you can’t visit the museum in person, the International Quilt Museum offers many ways to explore its collection virtually, including an online quilt database, virtual exhibition tours, recorded lectures, and educational resources about quilt history.This episode pairs perfectly with the International Quilt Museum Badge and Quilt Historian Badge inside Quilt Scouts.Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeInternational Quilt Museumhttps://www.internationalquiltmuseum.orgPlan Your Visithttps://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/visitCurrent Exhibitionshttps://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/exhibitionsWorld Quilts (educational quilt history resource)https://worldquilts.quiltstudy.orgQuilt of the Month newsletterhttps://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/about/quilt-monthInternational Quilt Museum YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/c/internationalquiltmuseumQuilt Index (quilt research database)https://quiltindex.orgCraft in Americahttps://www.craftinamerica.orgEnjoy the episode?Follow or subscribe to the Quilt Scouts Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Leaving a review is one of the best ways to help more quilters discover the show.You can find more from Quilt Scouts at quiltscouts.com.