Brief History of GSQA

According to Pat Lee, Historian

Although I can find no documentation, I do remember attending a quilt show and seminar held in 1983 at the Sheraton Hotel on Veterans Blvd., in Kenner, LA. This is where Marion gave me a list of ladies who might want to form a chapter. Thus, Cotton Pickin’ Quilters Guild was formed.

The organization was incorporated under Louisiana State Article of Incorporation issued January 17, 1984.

The association was organized after the 1982 National Quilting Association show at De La Salle High School in New Orleans as an outgrowth of the (NQA) as what was to be known as Region III, or the Gulf States Region.

“The purpose is to create, stimulate and perpetuate that art form brought to America by the colonists and which has spread to all corners of our country. Interest in our early heritage has continued to grow and Gulf States Quilting Association (GSQA) plans through its shows, seminars, lectures and workshops to continue to promote this growth.”

There seems to have been some problems with the NQA Regions. The GSQA board and NQA began questioning the usefulness of the regions. After some exchange of correspondence, in April of 1986 the National Quilting Association sent three representatives (Paul McDade, Vice President; Helen Thompson. Show Judges’ Chairperson; and Judy Elwood, Masters’ Guild Chairperson) to a board meeting of GSQA to exchange information about development of the regions and the communication problems that therein exist. The NQA called a meeting of the GSQA general membership for April 5, 1986 to discuss the matter. In September of 1986 NQA wrote to GSQA advising that they would divest itself of a structure for regions. Thus, GSQA became our own separate organization, but still a chapter of NQA.