This project was made possible thanks to a grant from Humanities Nebraska.

The project also benefited from the generosity of the Robert and Ardis James Foundation and the support of the College of Education and Human Sciences, Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, and the IQM leadership.

The International Quilt Museum developed World Quilts to share its premiere collection and hallmark scholarly perspective on the significance of quilts and quiltmaking with the world. It also moves existing quilt studies scholarship beyond disciplinary boundaries to integrate quilts within a broader art and humanities context. The Amish Story is the second component of World Quilts, with future modules slated to cover other geographic areas. With more than 5,000 quilts—too many to show in any physical gallery—the IQM values sharing its quilts and their historical and cultural context virtually.

The Amish Story, created to accompany the IQM's 2016-17 physical exhibition, Amish Quilts and the Crafting of Diverse Traditions, explores bedcovers made by members of the Amish religion within multiple contexts and a with a wide-angle lens, investigating intersections of religion, art, craft, fashion, and commerce. Curated by Janneken Smucker, The Amish Story draws on research she conducted for her book, Amish Quilts: Crafting an American Icon (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013).

The IQM is the the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection. Established in 1997, the IQM opened a new museum in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2008. The museum’s mission is to build a global collection and audience that celebrate the cultural and artistic significance of quilts. The IQM is an academic museum within the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.