Margaret Linsley

Margaret Linsley was an artist or designer active primarily between 1935 and 1953. Her career spanned the later years of the Great Depression through the post-war era, during which she made significant contributions to the documentation of American material culture through the Index of American Design (IAD).

Linsley’s output consisted of fifteen documented index of american designs, detailed renderings crucial for preserving the visual history of American decorative arts and folk objects. Her focus was predominantly on textiles and craft objects. Specific works represented in collections include a Quilt, an Applique Quilt, a Patchwork Quilt, and a highly detailed Quilt - Appliqued in Bellflower Design, alongside other pieces such as a Bag. These precise records serve as museum-quality documentation of historical craft.

The full collection of Margaret Linsley’s documented designs resides with the National Gallery of Art (NGA). As her work was created under the auspices of a federal project, much of this material is today recognized as being in the public domain, making the downloadable artwork accessible to researchers and enthusiasts. While no Margaret Linsley paintings are recorded, her documentary contributions ensure that high-quality prints of historical textile patterns remain available for study.