Introduction to the Pilgrim/Roy Collection

The names Pilgrim and Roy have gained international recognition in the quilting world. Paul and Gerald started working with quilts in the early 1960s when their interior decorating business prompted them to purchase antique quilts for clients. Each having a strong background in the fine arts, they also began collecting quilts solely for their aesthetic value. Today, the Pilgrim/Roy collection is composed of 2,500 quilts and quilt-related objects, including fabrics and all kinds of antique sewing tools.

Paul and Gerald were among the first board members of the Quilt Appraisal Program of the American Quilter's Society (AQS). They helped establish guidelines for this certification program, the only one of its kind. The duo also designed the interior of the Museum of the American Quilter's Society (MAQS). They co-curated exhibits for MAQS and co-authored The Log Cabin Returns to Kentucky (Collectors Books, 1992) and Quilts: Old and New-A Similar View (AQS, 1993)-the catalogs of these two exhibits, plus many more.

Paul D. Pilgrim 1942 -1996 Paul was a life force. He gave us a beautiful legacy of art and love and humor. He was an endearing man and a wonderful friend. Reference: Quilts By Paul D. Pilgrim BLENDING THE OLD AND THE NEW by Gerald E. Roy American Quilter’s Society