Dr. William Rush Dunton, Jr.’s interest in writing and research began at an early age. He and a
cousing published a magazine for one year and Dunton published a recipe book at the age of
14. It was a natural for him to write a book on quilts from the Baltimore region where he lived. Old
Quilts was self-published in 1946 and caused him a loss of $3,000. The book today is a collector’
s item and can be found priced in the range of $300 to $400!
He became a collector of quilts and quilt patterns, specializing in those from the Baltimore area.
His request for quilts for an exhibit brought forth 50 quilts and launched him into further study
and the curating of three more exhibits. In 1916 he exhibited six quilts made by Honoree marie
Webster. He corresponded with Webster and Honoree Lenice Bacon. In fact he reported that his
interest in quilts was sparked by Webster’s book, Quilts: Their Story and How To Make Them.
Dunton’s interests covered a wide range, including writing poetry and playing music. As a
Maryland psychiatrist, he pioneered the development of occupational therapy. Part of his
collection of quilts and papers is in the Baltimore Museum of Art, in Maryland. The Baltimore
Appliqué Society donated funds to the museum for the archival preservation of this extensive
collection, much to the benefit of researchers.
cousing published a magazine for one year and Dunton published a recipe book at the age of
14. It was a natural for him to write a book on quilts from the Baltimore region where he lived. Old
Quilts was self-published in 1946 and caused him a loss of $3,000. The book today is a collector’
s item and can be found priced in the range of $300 to $400!
He became a collector of quilts and quilt patterns, specializing in those from the Baltimore area.
His request for quilts for an exhibit brought forth 50 quilts and launched him into further study
and the curating of three more exhibits. In 1916 he exhibited six quilts made by Honoree marie
Webster. He corresponded with Webster and Honoree Lenice Bacon. In fact he reported that his
interest in quilts was sparked by Webster’s book, Quilts: Their Story and How To Make Them.
Dunton’s interests covered a wide range, including writing poetry and playing music. As a
Maryland psychiatrist, he pioneered the development of occupational therapy. Part of his
collection of quilts and papers is in the Baltimore Museum of Art, in Maryland. The Baltimore
Appliqué Society donated funds to the museum for the archival preservation of this extensive
collection, much to the benefit of researchers.
| William R. Dunton (1868-1966) |
Collector, popularized Baltimore Album Quilts, author of
Old Quilts. Inducted in 1979 at the Continental Quilting
Congress, Arlington, Virginia.
Research Associate: Eileen (Bunnie) Jordan
Old Quilts. Inducted in 1979 at the Continental Quilting
Congress, Arlington, Virginia.
Research Associate: Eileen (Bunnie) Jordan