Linda
Elisabeth LaPinta's Kentucky Quilts and Quiltmakers: Three Centuries of
Creativity, Community, and Commerce constitutes a comprehensive social and
material history of the powerful and pivotal women (as well as a few men) who
helped shape Kentucky's quilt mystique. Although LaPinta will mention a few
quilt patterns and styles, the focus of her presentation is not quiltmaking or
collecting; rather it is tales of the innovative and entrepreneurial
personalities who conceived the seminal and groundbreaking exhibitions and
institutions that have positioned Kentucky in the forefront of the quilt world.
LaPinta will also discuss commonwealth quilt achievements in the context of
critical national quilt realm milestones.
Linda Elisabeth LaPinta earned her B.A. in English
literature, English composition, and oral history from Beloit College; her M.A.
in journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public
Communications; her M.A.T. in English from the University of Louisville; and
her doctoral degree in leadership from Spalding University. After working in
oral history, social service, and editing positions, LaPinta served as a
tenured professor of English and journalism at Elizabethtown Community College
and Midway College prior to assuming successive roles as chair of the Adult
Accelerated Program and director of the doctoral program in leadership at
Spalding University. Under her maiden name, Beattie, she published four
previous books with the University Press of Kentucky. Since the 1970s, she has
published hundreds of articles and book reviews in magazines, newspapers, and
journals nationwide.