. . . one unique piece at a time
. . . one unique piece at a time
The Jameses cultivated relationships with artists, dealers, scholars and more
The James Collection has always been a rich resource for in-depth quilt study
How will the IQM continue to grow the Jameses' legacy?
... were collectors, researchers, visionaries, dreamers, business people, philanthropists, and more. In the late 1970s, Ardis and Robert James began building what would become one of the world's premiere quilt collections. Quilt by quilt, artist by artist, country by country, they assembled a group of textiles that represented the rich past—and present—of quiltmaking. The desire to share their love of quilts with the world inspired them to take the lead in the creation of the International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln—a place where their collection would continue to grow, not only in size but in scope and imagination.
Here is the story of the Jameses and their ever-evolving quilt collection.
 Over a period of 20+ years, Ardis and Robert James built one of the most comprehensive antique American quilt collections. |
 Once the Jameses were introduced to studio quilts, artist-made quilts quickly became another core part of the James Collection. |
 With the establishment of the International Quilt Museum in 1997, the James Collection became the focus of important historical research. |
 Growing the quilt collection was always part of the plan . . . including representing as many parts of the world as possible. |