Dear Jan, I am also interested in women in the Civil War. I am/was a home economist, and your information about the quilts interested me. The quilts would be more highly prized than the very low quality woolen blankets supplied to the troops. I am trying to find the books about the American nuns who were nurses in the Civil War. I believe that they were Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Mercy. I have found an original copy of the non-fiction book Louisa Mae Alcott, of "Little Women" fame, wrote about her experiences as a hospital nurse. "Little Women" is autobiographical,also, with Louisa being Jo in the book. Louisa did not last long in the nursing field, as she contracted typhoid [or some debilitating disease] and had to be sent home. I would be interested in any other references like these on women in the Civil War. Marilyn Kline Washington Hi Marilyn; One comment about the low quality blankets; considering the conditions under which those soldiers had to live, I think anything they slept under to keep warm would have been highly prized.:) In a copy of Diary of the Civil War: Through the eyes and From the pen of Sgt. P. T. Hanlin Co. H 11th PRVC, Patrick Hanlin of Westmoreland Co. writes of how those blankets kept him warm. Journal purchased from the Derry Area Historical Society, _http://www.derryhistory.org/pages/welcome.htm_ (http://www.derryhistory.org/pages/welcome.htm) . Below is just a small list of sites and books to read about quilting, the Sanitary Commission & women's experiences in the Civil War. There are many more that are just as worthy. Happy hunting and keep in touch. I am researching a book about an 1858 signature quilt done by 35 women of Scotch-Irish (Ulster-Scots) descent from Westmoreland and Clarion County that I own. It was made two miles from where my mother was born and raised. If you are very interested in excellent, scholarly research on women's history and textile history, you should consider joining the American Quilt Study Group, _http://www.h-net.org/~aqsg/_ (http://www.h-net.org/~aqsg/) . There are many members from PA. The Civil War and all related subjects have a lot of good material out there to find. Just don't ask my opinion of quilts used as signals on the Underground Railroad because you'll get a very long answer. _http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/civilwar/tp/aatpcivil_war1.htm_ (http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/civilwar/tp/aatpcivil_war1.htm) A list of 10 books about the sanitary commission, women in the Civil War as fighters and nurses (including Louisa May Alcott's Hospital Experiences). _http://www.library.vcu.edu/tml/bibs/cwmed.html_ (http://www.library.vcu.edu/tml/bibs/cwmed.html) scroll down to nurses & nursing _http://www.civilwarhome.com/medicinehistory.htm_ (http://www.civilwarhome.com/medicinehistory.htm) _http://www.thehistorynet.com/acw/blsistersofmercy/index.html_ (http://www.thehistorynet.com/acw/blsistersofmercy/index.html) _http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarnurses.htm_ (http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarnurses.htm) _http://www.edinborough.com/Life/Nurses/Nurses%20Attire.html_ (http://www.edinborough.com/Life/Nurses/Nurses%20Attire.html) What civil war nurses wore. _http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/civilwar.htm_ (http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/civilwar.htm) please click on the 2 references listed at the bottom of this article _http://www.netwalk.com/~jpr/quilts.htm_ (http://www.netwalk.com/~jpr/quilts.htm) Written by friend and quilt historian, Ricky Clark. You must read her book on Ohio quilts, especially if you like women's history. To learn about dating, quilt history and women's stories please read Clues in the Calico & Quilts from the Civil War by Barbara Brackman and Quiltmaking in America:Beyond the Myths by another friend, Laurel Horton. Jan Thomas Textile Specialist & Independent Researcher Colorado Springs (by way of OH, PA & MD)