Ann Orr
(1875-1946)
Pattern designer, magazine editor, operated Anne Orr Studio.
Inducted in 1980 at the Continental Quilting Congress, Arlington, Virginia.
Research Associate: Merikay Waldvogel
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Anne Orr is known for her distinctive needlework designs. Art classes
were a part of her schooling as a young lady, which aided her career as an art editor. It wasn’t until
about 1920 that her interest was drawn to quilt patterns and eventually to publishing two booklets of
modern patters for Lockport Batting Company and wrote her last book, Anne Orr Quilts.

Prior to designing quilt patterns, she produced knitting, crochet and tatting patterns and books, and
ran a successful mail order business.

Magazines for which she worked included Southern Woman’s Magazine, Good Housekeeping and
Better Hones and Gardens. Following Anne Orr’s death, Dove Publications published some of her
needlework patterns and instruction books, including Quilting with Anne Orr.