The Quilters Hall of Fame
926 S. Washington St.
Marion, IN 46953
ph: 765-664-9333
quilters
Celebration
Join us for Celebration 2013 - July 18-20
Meredith Schroeder announced as the 2013 Honoree
Visionary, innovator, and grand ambassador of quilting to the world are terms that describe Meredith Shroeder, the 2013 Inductee in The Quilters Hall of Fame. Meredith helped put Paducah, Kentucky, not only on a quilter's map but on the world map.
Starting out with husband Bill as a publisher of books on collectibles, Meredith co-founded the American Quilter's Society in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1984. The following year the first AQS Show & Contest began. It offered $25,000 in cash prizes, giving monetary value to what had formerly been considered by many as "women's work." The annual AQS shows now number four per year and they have the highest monetary prizes - $120,000 in cash awards and $20,000 Best of Show. The increase in prize money helped establish a rise in the importance of the quilt as an art form as well as increase the dignity and professional status of the quilter. Meredith initiated the process of seeking sponsors to elevate the prize money, a practice now followed by most quilt shows. Everyone in the larger quiltmaking business community benefited as well.
The AQS Show was the first national now to work jointly with a community college to permit quilters to earn certificates and college credit. It later offered online classes. Another of Meredith's contributions was the development of the appraiser certification program to give professional status to quilt appraisers through AQS certification process. Well over 100 men and women have been AQS certified.
In 1990 Mereidth co-founded The National Quilt Museum (formerly Museum of the American Quilters Society), a state-of-the-art museum preserving quilts as art, allowing quilts to be viewed as art, and giving quiltmakers the honor of having their works displayed as art.
Meredith's vision elevated the industry to a national and international fine art form partly through the publishing of two magazines. The American Quilter magazine began in 1984. The Quilt Life, an innovative "reading" magazine about quilts featuring Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, was launched in 2009. Meredith oversees the publication of twenty books per year on quiltmaking techniques and patterns. This has provided outstanding support for teachers and designers.
Person's officially nominating Meredith Shroeder as in inductee to The Quilters Hall of Fame all described her personal traits in remarkably similar terms. She is a role model as a successful business woman while foremost a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Meredith is an inspiration who aspires to no limelight. She's modest, preferring to give others the credit and glory, possessing an exemplary character of integrity, loyalty, dedication, and tireless commitment to her work. Quilt artisit Libby Lehman adds, "Meredith doesn't just lend her name to projects, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work. She knows how to run a board meeting and how to nail up a board when needed."
Bonnie Browning and Andi Reynolds summed up their nomination well in stating, "Quilt history would be short a significant chapter without Meredith Shroeder's mention, notice, and honor."
Join us for Celebration 2013
July 18-20
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926 S. Washington St.
Marion, IN 46953
ph: 765-664-9333
quilters
