176 pages | 256 color illustrations | 12 x 11 inches
ISBN: 979-8-218-88094-1 (paperback)
© 2026 | $40

Quilts 250

Stitching in the Spirit of Democracy

Sara J. Schechner
Photography by Edward Feather

This book celebrates the Concord 250 curated quilt show that brought more than 250 quilts under a single roof in Concord, Massachusetts on March 22-23, 2025. The show was organized by volunteers from local quilt guilds to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and Lexington, which occurred on April 19, 1775 and ignited the Revolutionary War that led to America’s independence.

Like the show, this book is organized by chronology, style, and theme. Chapters include Antique Quilts, Traditional Quilts, Contemporary Quilts, Quilts in the Spirit of 1775, Quilts of Protest, and Quilts in Bloom. Every quilt and floral design is illustrated and accompanied by an artist statement. Short essays put the artworks into historical and cultural context, with special attention paid to the history of quilting and textile production in Massachusetts. The Introduction documents how the exhibition was developed, describes bonus programs (such as a lecture by collector Gerald Roy), and is illustrated with photos of the events.

Readers will enjoy turning the pages of this large-format art book whether or not they saw the exhibition. The book stands on its own as a testament to quilts in America and social changes witnessed by them.