James Washington Harvey's quilt, made outside the immediate environs of Baltimore in Prince George's County, features a predominantly red and green color palette punctuated by scattered pieces of both plain and printed fabrics of yellow, orange, and blue. While none of its squares displays the elaborate dimensional layering of classic Baltimore album quilts, some floral motifs do exhibit multiple layers of appliqué and reverse appliqué as well as added embroidered details. The blocks include an ambitious floral basket near the center surrounded by simple floral wreaths, sprays, and open leaf wreaths enclosing floral designs. Many squares, including several charming heart wheels, appear to be related to the German practice of folding and cutting paper (scherenschnitte), while others may relate to Pennsylvania German hex signs. According to family history, James Harvey left Maryland for Ohio in 1856 when only twenty-six years old, thus prompting the ladies of Prince George's County and family members to present him with this quilt. True to the ideal of the album quilt, each of its 42 blocks contains the name or initials of a friend or relative, including those of his older brother Thomas (represented by the initials T.H.), sister-in-law Dorcas, older sister Kate (Catherine), and his nieces Mary, then 11, and 3 year-old Clara. All the signers lived in the districts of Bladensburg or Vansville in Prince Georges County. In an age when a move westward could result in never seeing loved ones again, this album quilt was a very tangible reminder of those left behind. Though nothing more is known of James following his departure, census records suggest that he may have travelled even farther west from Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri, where one James W. Harvey and wife Harriet, a childless couple, owned a farm in the late 19th century. The lack of direct descendants could explain why the quilt was apparently returned to one of its makers, Dorcas Harvey, whose great-granddaughter donated it to the Museum. The curator wishes to thank Marylou McDonald for her assistance in gathering information on the signers of the Harvey album quilt. CONSERVATION OF THE JAMES W. HARVEY ALBUM QUILT SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE ANNAPOLIS QUILT GUILD.