Interview with Ruth Wescott Duncan, January 21, 2004

Partial Transcript: Today is January 21, 2004.

Segment Synopsis: Duncan is originally from Connecticut and lived at the University of Connecticut for years as a student and worker. She majored in English and then went to graduate school at Simmons University in Boston for her degree in library science, then worked in the library.

Keywords: Boston (Mass.); Childhood; Librarians; Libraries; Library science; Quiltmakers

Subjects: Quiltmakers; Simmons University; University of Connecticut

Partial Transcript: I see. And so your first jobs were also librarian--

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says almost all her jobs were in the library. She was a librarian at fifteen at Old Greenwich and worked there throughout her high school years. She had worked for the Fairfax Library for 18 months until her son was born, then worked at the Alexandria Library for 17 years.

Keywords: Alexandria Library; Childhood; Librarians; Libraries; Library science; Old Greenwich Library; Perrot Memorial Library; Quiltmakers

Subjects: Alexandria (Va.); Careers.; Greenwich (Conn.); Occupations.; Professions.; Quiltmakers; Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Well, I could ask you then, how did you get started or interested--first of all, how did you get interested in quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says that during her childhood, when she got cold her family would give her a quilt. She eventually brought this quilt with her to her apartment as an adult and used it as a bedspread.

Keywords: Childhood; Quilt purpose - Bedcovering

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Partial Transcript: Perhaps at this point you would tell me about that quilt and about your quilt that you brought today.

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says that her childhood quilt and the quilt she is showing today are similar. Her childhood quilt is in the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich and has six generations' worth of quilts. She says the quilt was a 25 patch with light and dark red centers. Her grandmother's quilt was made of ladies' dress goods since she was a dressmaker as a young woman. She says that the quilt is silk and has fine cotton, which makes it soft. However, Duncan does not wash the quilt because her family does not wash them, they are aired.
The quilt Duncan made was inspired by her grandmother and has repeat fabrics and borders.

Keywords: Childhood; Fabric selection; Generational quiltmaking; Grandmothers; Quilt inspiration; Quilt preservation; Silk

Subjects: Families.; Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: Uh, what are your favorite types of quilts to make? What have you been doing?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says she enjoys the process of finding ideas for a quilt and may get ideas from a book of blocks and shapes. She also likes to tinker with the graph paper. Duncan prefers geometric patterns and all color except black.

Keywords: Color selection; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking inspiration; Quiltmaking process

Subjects: Quilters; Quilting; Quilts

Partial Transcript: Okay, now, we were saying your favorite part of quilting. Are there any other favorite parts before we go to your least favorite part?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says she enjoys piecing and assembly and finds it relaxing, but sandwiching (putting the batt and top together) makes her nervous. She shares that she usually bastes things together.

Keywords: Hand piecing; Piecing; Quilting

Subjects: Piecing; Quilting

Partial Transcript: Um, how many hours a day would you say that you are able to do now that you are retired?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan begins by saying that she has been retired ever since she started quilting seriously. She says that quilting activities in a typical day take her an hour or two. She says her first quilt was made when she was six years old.

Keywords: Quilting; Quilting process; Time management

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Partial Transcript: And what are some of your--do you have a least favorite part of quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says that she is a traditional hand quilter and that she is not skilled on the machine. She believes that she is more accurate when she quilts by hand rather than by machine. Duncan says she has made dozens of different kinds of quilts for her family and grandchildren. She has made a Double Wedding Ring quilt for herself and quilts for community projects as well.

Keywords: Childhood; Double Wedding Ring; Family; Hand piecing; Quilt purpose - Gift or presentation; Sewing machines

Subjects: Double wedding ring quilts; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: So you have a--first of all you have a huge problem of storing all your quilts at home. And how about your fabrics?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says that her fabric stash is embarrassing, but that her husband looks at it as an investment.

Keywords: Fabric stashes

Subjects: Craft and art; Quilting; Quilts

Partial Transcript: Okay, um, what, what quilting groups do you belong to and give us the history of--

Segment Synopsis: Duncan has been with the Cardinal Quilters since 1987 and met them when she was a librarian at the Duncan Branch Library. She mentions that in 1986 she was a member of Beth Ford's beginner's quilting class. She shares that she has retired at 45, but is still with the Cardinal Quilters. During her time as a Cardinal Quilter, she says she has held positions such as secretary and president. Duncan says that the group is much smaller than it used to be due to deaths and people moving away.

Keywords: Beth Ford; Cardinal Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmaking class; Quiltmaking classes; Quilts

Subjects: Quilters; Quilting; Quiltmaker's club; Quiltmakers

Partial Transcript: What other quilt-oriented activities--

Segment Synopsis: Duncan mentions that there is a quilting group at her church that she is a part of. With her church group, she has made handmade quilts with machine appliqued hands that were traced from members of the congregation. They then transfer the fabric onto muslin and put them together. Duncan says she has made seven or eight hand quilts, a quilt for a departing pastor, and quilted stoles. She says that the quilts have traditional colors for times of years.

Keywords: Applique; Embroidery; Machine applique; Muslin; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmaker's club; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: And, let's see, have you done any other teaching or publishing--

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says she is not a quilt teacher or publisher, she is only a quilter.

Keywords: Art education; Publishing; Quilters; Quiltmaking class; Quiltmaking classes; Teachers; Teaching

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: And, have you ever been--have you been in any contests?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan has been in a few shows in the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) Quilt and Loom Show in Fredericksburg. She says in 1989 and 1990, one of her quilts got third prize.

Keywords: Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA); Awards; Prizes; Quilt contests; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quilting; Quilts

Subjects: Fredericksburg (Va.); Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: What do you think makes a great--a quilt great?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan believes that a great quilt has a combination of pattern and color usage.

Keywords: Color selection; Fabric; Patterns; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking; Quilts

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts

Partial Transcript: And, how, how have quilts been special for American women through the years?

Segment Synopsis: When Duncan looks at her great grandmothers and other women in the family, she thinks that it was likely that quilts were made as an artistic expression and warm cover for the family.

Keywords: Family; Female quiltmakers; Gender in quiltmaking; Gender roles; Generational quiltmaking; Quilt purpose - Artistic expression; Quilt purpose - Utilitarian

Subjects: Female artists; Quilt; Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quilts--United States; Quilts--United States--History--20th century.

Partial Transcript: Um, do you have any other comments? Or anything you can tell about any specific projects you've done?

Segment Synopsis: Duncan says she is a "finisher." She has few unfinished projects because she likes to get her things done. She also says that one of the most important parts of quiltmaking is the actual making. She expresses that it can become tedious and she pushes on before she gets sick of making the quilt. She does have a habit of recording her work on graph paper of the pattern and drawing of the block.

Keywords: Quilters; Quiltmaker; Quiltmaking; Quiltmaking process; Unfinished objects (UFO)

Subjects: Quilting; Quiltmakers; Quiltmaking; Quiltmaking process