GD1/152 UK AIDS Memorial Quilt panels

Collection Summary

Reference Code: GB239 GD1/152
Title: UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Panels
Dates of Creation of Material: 1989-1996
Level of Description: Fonds
Extent and Medium of the Unit of Description: 10 fabric panels

Name of creator(s): The NAMES Project
Administrative history: The NAMES Project was founded in San Francisco in 1987 by AIDS activist Cleve Jones. It is the largest community arts project in the world. The Project organised and co-ordinated the making and collecting of fabric panels (each the size of a standard grave plot) which could be stitched together and subsequently displayed as a memorial to those who died as a result of AIDS-related illnesses. Individual panels were made by family and loved ones, and could be dedicated to an individual, to groups, or to a cause. The initiative spread around the world, with the UK chapter of the NAMES Project beginning in the late 1980s, eventually based in Edinburgh under the leadership of Scottish LGBT activist, Alistair Hume. The UK NAMES Project organised exhibitions of quilt panels, ran education workshops around the quilt and HIV awareness, collected finished panels from around the country, assembled them into quilts, and raised funds. The UK NAMES Project ran until the mid-1990s.

Archival History: Custody of Waverley Care prior to transfer to LHSA.
Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Donated by the Spiritual Care and Faith Communities’ Coordinator, Waverley Care, in 2015 (Acc15/016).

Scope and Content: Ten textile mixed media UK AIDS Memorial quilt panels, each with hanging loops. Individual panels are described in detail at item level.
Appraisal, Destruction and Scheduling Information: No appraisal or destruction following donation.
Accruals: No further accessions are expected


Conditions Governing Access: Open to public access.
Conditions Governing Use: All ten panels have been digitised to an extremely high standard. If possible, access to digital surrogates is encouraged over repeated viewing of physical panels, since frequent removal from and return to housing risks accumulated wear and tear. If access to physical panels is requested, please note that their size means that dedicated space and staff time needs to be booked in advance. Therefore, please be advised that at least two weeks’ notice is needed for any appointment to view these items.
Language/Scripts of Material: English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements: Panels are mixed-media, large scale, and delicate. Their size means that they cannot be viewed in the reading room: a separate space with appropriately sized tables must be booked by archive staff.
Finding Aids: Item level catalogue is available on collections management system. ArchivesSpace (link from LHSA website is available).

Archivists’ Notes: Description compiled by Louise Williams, 2024.
Rules or Conventions: Description based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description International Council on Archives (2nd edition), 2000.
Date(s) of Description: 2024