African American Quilt Documentation Study Group
Preserving the Art, History, & Heritage of African American Quilts
A living archive documenting the quilting traditions, stories, and honoring the artistry of African American quilts across generations.
Our Purpose
Documenting a Living Tradition
The African American Quilt Documentation Study Group is dedicated to the scholarly preservation of quilts made by African American quilters across the United States.
Through documentation days, oral histories, and archival research, we capture the stories, techniques, and cultural significance embedded in each quilt — ensuring these traditions endure for future generations.
BAMPFA Documentation Day, June 2025, Berkeley, CA
From the Archive
Featured Quilts
A selection of documented quilts from our growing archive, spanning regions, eras, and traditions.
Improv Strip
Improv Strip Quilt
Memphis, TN · c. 1985
A vibrant improvisational strip quilt reflecting the bold aesthetic traditions of Memphis quilters.
Wagon Wheel
Wagon Wheel Quilt
Crockett, TX · c. 1930
Housetop Variation
Housetop Variation
Bogalusa, LA · c. 1950
Our Newsletter
The Griot's Tea
IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, BUT WE ARE BACK, AND THE NEXT GRIOT'S TEA IS COMING SOON!...Sit down, pour a cup, and get caught up on the latest AAQDSG news. The Griot's Tea is our quarterly newsletter bringing you event updates, Documentation Days, and the highlights from the archive.
We are thrilled to be back and working on our next newsletter, dedicated to celebrating and preserving African American quilting traditions. Our study group is committed to documenting the unique stories, techniques, and cultural significance embedded in African American quilts. Quilting has long served as a medium through which African American women—and men—have expressed creativity, resilience, and community bonds. Each quilt holds a piece of history, stitching together threads of personal and collective narratives across generations. Through this newsletter, we aim to share more than just documentation events and quiltmakers stories – we will also highlight the historical significance of African American quilts and our ongoing efforts to conserve them. Our mission is to honor and preserve these legacies and ensure their continued presence for future generations. A’donna L. Richardson Director, AAQDSG
Join the Email List
Stay Connected to the Archive
Receive The Griot's Tea directly in your inbox, along with event announcements, and new collection additions.
Join the Documentation Effort
Do you have quilts, stories, or research to contribute? AAQDSG welcomes researchers, collectors, quilters, and quilt guilds to help grow this living archive. We are also open to community collaboration for quilt documentation days with libraries, universities, museums, and community organizations.