Fly Me to the Moon: Celebrating Apollo 11 at 50 with a Quilt & Book Display

This post was authored by Nanette Gibbs, Business Reference Librarian, and Sean Bryant, Science Reference Librarian, of the Science, Technology, and Business Division.

The Science, Technology and Business Division is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission with a display of books from the Library’s general collection, paired with a selection of fiber art quilts from the private Fly Me to the Moon collection. The quilts will be on display beginning July 16^th, the anniversary of the mission launch, through July 17^th, from 8:30am to 3:00pm each day, in the Science and Business Reading Room on the 5^th floor of the John Adams Building. The books will remain on display through July 24^th, the anniversary of the astronauts’ return to Earth.

The Fly Me to the Moon quilt collection was the idea of Susanne Miller Jones, who authored a book about it: Fly me to the moon, an art quilt journey.  She was originally inspired by the upcoming 50^th anniversary of the July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, and the book’s title and theme also reflect the author’s favorite song, “Fly me to the moon.”  The book features narratives by the artists highlighting their interpretations of the theme and the resultant design choices. Many of these narratives include treasured childhood memories of the space program.

In October 2017, a selection of the Fly Me to the Moon quilts were featured in a Science and Business Reading Room display celebrating the Moon. The new display will include returning quilts, as well as quilts not seen previously at the Library of Congress.

Several of the artists will be on hand to answer questions.