World War II Quilts

Book excerpt: Many American women made warm and attractive quilts to benefit U.S. soldiers during the period 1940-1945, either as outright gifts or as raffle items to raise money for good causes. This book reflects the author's extensive original research of newspaper and magazine articles of the era that feature these quilts. This work authenticates the patterns and designs available to quiltmakers and anchors the quilts historically in time. 335 color photos and descriptive text identify many colorful and patriotic quilts with military symbols and insignia, quilts made for donation to the Red Cross and organizations such as Bundles for Britain to raise money for the war effort. When possible, original patterns and designs that inspired the quilts are included. This work is important historically and emotionally to the appreciative families for whom these quilts, and thousands more yet to be discovered, were originally intended. Their legacies will continue because now these quilts can be interpreted from factual and objective perspectives.