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 materials

Grant-Funded Projects

“White Quilts and Coverlets in South Carolina, 1750-1840.” The Humanities Council^SC 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