William R. Dunton
(1868-1966)
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Collector, popularized Baltimore Album Quilts, author of Old Quilts. Inducted in 1979 at the
Continental Quilting Congress, Arlington, Virginia.
Research Associate: Eileen (Bunnie) Jordan
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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.
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