Shiela Betterton is widely recognized as an authority on American quilts. She lives in Bath, England, where from 1963 to 1993, first as steward and later as textile advisor, she helped amass the textile collection of the American Museum in Britain. Under her direction, the collection grew to include fine examples of American quiltmaking in the only venue outside the United States.

 

Once the collection of quilts was acquired she began sharing its history by curating exhibitions, including the 1976 Exhibition with the Commonwealth Institute of London and the 1980 British Council Exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri. The prestigious 1997 exhibit “Crazy for Quilts: 200 Years of American Quilts,” held at the American Museum in Britain, was dedicated to Shiela, who had recently retired.

 

Shiela lectured not only in England, but also on the continent and in the United States. She wrote American Textiles and Needlework (1971), The American Quilt Tradition (1976), Quilts and Coverlets (1978) and More Quilts and Coverlets (1988).

 

She has been recognized for her contributions by election to the Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts and was appointed Honorary Life Member of both the British Quilters Guild and the Bath Quilters.