05/08/2026
SIGNATURE QUILTS
A new exhibit opened recently in the Front Door Gallery at the Finney County Historical Museum, featuring a collection of signature quilts that illustrate a unique American craft practiced widely across the United States. Signature quilts date to the mid-19th century, with printed or written names stitched or embroidered into the individual quilt squares. The exhibit includes eight quilts, dating back to the 1920s, with one completed as recently as 2025. Most were assembled by different women's groups in Finney, Pawnee, Rooks, Sedgwick, Steven and other Kansas counties. Among them are a friendship quilt spanning four generations, another begun during the 1930s for Larned resident Mary Froetschner ; and a Dresden Plate quilt with 20 names from the Pierceville community that dates to 1941. Along with the others, there is a unique two-sided quilt completed in redent years by Christy Van Zant of Montezuma, but started by the present owner's great grandmother to record various members of her family.
Special thank you to the following individuals and businesses for providing elements of the exhibit:
Donna and Norman Christensen
Gary and Susan Condit, who operate Salvaged Treasures
Carol (Richards) Deaver
Stacy Fickel of Just Sew Fickel
Tony Harris of the Antique and Comic Shoppe,
Erica and James McNutt
Tammy Wilson
Christy Van Zant
Vintage Vibe Store
Nancy Curry
