Textile Treasures from Appalachia
Kathleen Wilson • May 1, 2026
Lecture by Kathleen Curtis Wilson given at The BEAR in Hot Springs, Virginia
In beautiful downtown Hat Springs, a group of local and regional lovers of art, 19th century woven covelets, and locally made quilts gathered at the BEAR, art gallery, to hear Kathleen Curtis Wilson give a presentation about a variety of textiles she has uncovered during her many years of research.
With lots of questions, Kathleen helped the audience understand the historical importance of her research.
May 26 was a beautiful warm day in the mountains. Locally made quilts sparkled on the gallery walls. Friends and neighbors enjoyed refreshments after the presentation and lingered to hear more about Kathleen’s new novel, The Fabric of Wishful Thinking, available June 9.
A highly anticipated debut fiction novel, The Fabric of Wishful Thinking. A richly researched and breathtaking portrait of 1910 rural Appalachia.
Book reading and signing - June 17th from 2 PM to 4PM. Come to The Inn at Warm Springs to meet our Guest Speaker, author of Dancing at the Warm Springs Hotel. Read more for details.
Join us for a book signing event at The Inn at Warm Springs, Warm Springs, Virginia. More information to follow.
Keynote Presentation: Kathleen Curtis Wilson Monday July 18th 2022 - 7 PM to 9 PM Tickets: $73 or Free with CVP, includes dinner, cash bar available After 25 years documenting the hand woven textiles in Southern Appalachia, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has a treasure trove of photographs and stories to share, including photographs of a rare bed rug, a woven quilt made by two enslaved women in Tennessee, and a suit of clothing made of fabric woven c. 1820 in North Carolina. She will share the fascinating story of two Appalachian women who wove the furnishings for the Lincoln bedroom in the Woodrow Wilson White House and show a few images of the crafts made during the earliest years of the settlement school movement. With every piece of cloth, the history of the region is revealed. Kathleen will present a visual tour of the talent and diversity of the strong, resilient men and women who settled in Southern Appalachia.
From Enslavement to Entrepreneurship in Appalachian Virginia. Beautiful and sassy, Alice Bolden was used to getting her own way. One hot summer day in 1932, she sashayed out of her family’s home in the black community of West Warm Springs, Virginia, wearing shorts. Her mother, Elizabeth Morris Bolden, looked up from her gardening. Mother and daughter locked eyes.
On May 27, 2021, from 1:00 - 3:00pm 4 W. Main St. (2nd floor, enter under yellow awning) For the past 35 years, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has documented, written, studied, and lectured on textile traditions in southern Appalachia. Particularly, Wilson has revived the narrative regarding coverlets, the beautifully intricate fiber works, and the women who wove them. Join us to explore these common, yet mysterious pieces that abound with heart. For more information and to make reservations call (540)382-5644 or email: collections@montgomerymuseum.org Attendance to the event is free. Have your own family coverlets reviewed by Ms. Wilson for $20. Reservation Required for personal review.
