The best known female icon of World War II is probably Rosie the Riveter. A new exhibit at the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln shows that Rosie had some company in the war effort. Jerry Johnston reports.
International Quilt Study Center http://www.quiltstudy.org
Quilts of Valor www.qovf.org
Rosie the Riveter song www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQ0M0wx00s
Samples from the WWII Quilt Exibit
Quilts like this one were used in direct relief efforts, like the Bundles for Britain program. Canned goods and other necessities were wrapped inside quilts made by Americans.
The people who's signatures appear on this quilt probably made a donation to the war effort, and then the entire quilt would be auctioned - two sources of funds from one quilt.
The "V Block" pattern in this quilt was published before the war, but republished when the letter "V" wasn't just a design element - it was a patriotic statement.
The "quiet please" blocks on this quilt were collected from signs night workers would use to keep from being interrupted during valuable daytime sleep hours.