Here is the largest, most comprehensive history of American quilts ever published! The Quilt explores the evolution of quilting in America, showing in vivid colors and patterns how African American, Amish, Hawaiian, Hmong, and Native American quilts celebrate cultural identity, and how quilts connect us to one another through quilting bees and other community groups. Noted quilt historian Elise Schebler Roberts also goes beyond the historical nature of quilts to cover current efforts at quilt preservation, collecting and appraising, and state documentation projects. Her book features an encyclopedia of favorite quilt styles and is gloriously illustrated with more than 200 full-color photographs of classic collectible quilts.