Stories Behind the Quilt
Mary Breckinridge Wendover Campus & Southeast Kentucky African Appalachian Museum and Cultural Center
The Mary Breckinridge Wendover campus was honored to host Emily Hudson of the Southeast Kentucky African Appalachian Museum and Cultural Center for a special program titled Stories Behind the Quilt.
Hudson delivered an engaging and deeply informative presentation that explored the cultural, historical, and familial narratives woven into Appalachian quilting traditions. Drawing from her work in documenting African Appalachian heritage, she highlighted the ways quilts serve as vessels of memory, identity, resilience, and artistic expression across generations in southeastern Kentucky.
Following the presentation, participants engaged in a hands-on collaborative art activity inspired by the themes discussed. Attendees shared personal stories about the quilt makers in their own families' grandmothers, aunts, and community members whose craftsmanship preserved both tradition and family history. The room filled with meaningful conversation, reflection, and connection as individuals worked together to create a collective piece of artwork honoring these legacies.
The event offered not only an educational experience, but also a space for community members to celebrate Appalachia’s diverse cultural roots and the importance of preserving textile traditions. Wendover was proud to partner with Hudson and the Southeast Kentucky African Appalachian Museum and Cultural Center for a day of learning, creativity, and heritage appreciation.
—Mary Breckinridge Wendover Campus & Southeast Kentucky African Appalachian Museum and Cultural Center
The Kentucky Intercultural Microgrant Program is a seed grant to support two or more individuals or organizations collaborating across distance, difference, or sector on projects that celebrate and connect Kentucky's people and places. Our 2025 funding partners included Kentucky Arts Council, Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, EarthTools, and individual donors. Learn more at kyrux.org/microgrants