Events

A Lifetime of Collecting Part 2: Canadian Handwoven Overshot Coverlets from the Dennis and Sylvia Mills Collection, guest curated by Danielle Marshall is the latest exhibit at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM). Coverlets from the MVTM’s...

A Lifetime of Collecting Part 2: Canadian Handwoven Overshot Coverlets from the Dennis and Sylvia Mills Collection, guest curated by Danielle Marshall is the latest exhibit at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM). Coverlets from the MVTM’s collection will be displayed at the museum from October 18 to December 20, 2025.

Dennis and the late Sylvia Mills can trace their roots back to long-established Ontario families. Meeting when they were both secondary school teachers, they began a life of collecting together. Dennis had been a serious collector of Canadiana since his teen years, with a special fascination with handwoven textiles, while Syliva’s engagement with fabric had manifested in her own collection of vintage clothing and fashion accessories. Both of these avid collectors moved beyond simply acquiring objects and became committed to researching and showcasing them through conferences, seminars, and special exhibitions. As Dennis says, “collecting is not about gathering (or hoarding) artifacts, but unveiling the stories within and around them.”