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 American Story synthesizes existing scholarship on the historic and contemporary roles of quilts and quiltmaking within the United States.

The American Story is the first 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 IQSCM values sharing its quilts and their historical and cultural context virtually.

The IQM is the the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection. Established in 1997, the IQM opened a new museum 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