Curriculum vitae

Laurel McKay Horton
302 East South Third Street
Seneca, South Carolina 29678-3515
phone: 864/882-9933
laurel@kalmiaresearch.net

Summary

• Quilt researcher, author/editor, lecturer, consultant
• M.A. in Folklore
• M.S. in Library Science
• Editor, Uncoverings, 1987–1993, 2008–
• President, American Quilt Study Group, 1993–1996
• Director, South Carolina Quilt History Project, 1983–1985
• Consultant/advisor for quilt research projects in North Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, California, Nebraska, New York, Massachusetts, Kansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee
• Associate Faculty Fellow, International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska
• Who’s Who of American Women
• James Angell Book Award, Presbyterian Writers Guild, 2006

Education

• M.A. (Folklore) 1979, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Thesis: “Economic Influences on German and Scotch-Irish Quilts in Antebellum Rowan County, North Carolina”
• M.S.L.S. (Library Science) 1971, University of Kentucky
• B.A. (English) 1970, University of Kentucky

Fellowships

• Winterthur Museum, Research Fellow, February 2008
• Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Madelyn Moeller Research Fellow, 2006
• International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Visiting Faculty Fellow, 2006

Employment

• Kalmia Research (1980–present) Self-Employed, folklorist, researcher, writer, editor, consultant
• Argosy Film Group (2008–2010) Humanities Consultant. Advisor for development of NEH-funded children’s television series
• Polaris Corporation (1994–2003) Certified Trainer. Presented grants workshops for educators, nonprofit organizations
• McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina (1983–1993) Guest Curator/Research Associate. Directed series of projects and exhibitions to survey and document quiltmaking and other folklife traditions
• Tri-County Technical College (1990–1992) Librarian (part-time). Searched computer databases; provided reference, ILL, and library instruction
• Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University (1979–1980) Outreach Project Coordinator. Produced and presented series of public programs on local folklore and history for local audiences
• Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC (1976–1979) Special Collections Librarian. Developed and administered collection of Appalachian regional resources, including books, manuscripts, non-print materials
• Folk Music Archives, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1974–1976) Student Assistant/Curator. Maintained and accessed collection of folk music sound recordings
• North Carolina Central University (1972–1974) Humanities/Library Instruction Librarian. Developed programs to increase student use of library material

Grant-Funded Projects

“White Quilts and Coverlets in South Carolina, 1750-1840.” The Humanities CouncilSC Planning grant, 2007

“White Quilts and Coverlets in the Carolinas, 1750-1825.” American Quilt Study Group, Meredith Scholarship, 2007

International Travel Stipend to attend British Quilt Study Group meeting, American Folklore Society, Committee on International Issues, 2006

“Quilters of South Carolina,” South Carolina Arts Commission grant to support formation of a state-wide organization, 1994

“Quilts: The Irish Connection,” Travel to Collections grant, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the British Council, 1991

“Nineteenth Century Dutch Fork Textiles,” Lexington County Historical Society. South Carolina Humanities Council grant, 1989–1990

“Planning for Computer/Videodisc Documentation of Quilts,” McKissick Museum. National Endowment for the Humanities, 1986

“Pawleys Island Black Quiltmakers,” McKissick Museum. South Carolina Humanities Council Mini-grant, 1986

“Quiltmaking Traditions in South Carolina,” McKissick Museum. National Endowment for the Arts, Folk Arts Program, 1983–1985

“Folk Art and Traditional Handicrafts,” Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University. North Carolina Humanities Committee Mini-grant, 1981

“Economic and Ethnic Influences on Quiltmaking in Selected Areas of North Carolina,” National Endowment for the Humanities Youthgrant, 1976

Memberships

• American Quilt Study Group, 1983–present
  • Board of Directors, 1986–1996
  • President, 1993–1996
  • Editor, Uncoverings (annual research papers), 1988–1993, 2008–
• British Quilt Study Group (Friend), 2007–present
• American Folklore Society, 1979–2008
• South Carolina Traditional Arts Network
  • Board of Directors, 2000–2003
• Harvest Moon Folk Society
  • Board of Directors, 2002–2003
• Quilters of South Carolina, 1994–present
  • Steering Committee, 1993–1994
• Southern Highland Craft Guild, 1982–present
• Lake and Mountain Quilters
  • Program Chair, 1988, 1995
  • President, 1989
  • Newsletter editor, 1991
• North Carolina Quilt Symposium, Inc
  • Board of Directors, 1981–1983