Six ladies met twice at Mary Ann Kregear's home in the fall of 1986 to start a quilt guild. An ad was put in the newspaper to attract potential members. The Scrap Baggers Quilt Guild was organized in October of 1986 with a membership of nineteen. Having met at the Methodist church in North Town and at the VFW, Mary Ann Gaberino donated a room at the Old McAlester High School. The first quilt show was in the spring of 1988 held in the Old High School Cafeteria.

The purpose of the organization is to stimulate an interest in quilts, to promote and advance the art of quiltmaking, to conduct educational programs, and serve in the design techniques and preservation of quilts and quiltmaking.

The organization is non-profit. All assets are used to benefit the purpose of this organization along with donations within our community to benefit those less fortunate.

On December 10, 1987, the Guild met for the first time in its permanent room at the Old High School Building. Also, at that meeting, the name of the organization was changed to the Kiamichi Quilt Guild in honor of the beautiful Kiamichi Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma.

In October 1988, the "Moon over the Mountain" quilt block was chosen as the official logo for the Guild. A contest was held with each member submitting this block with her own choice of colors and design. Helen Haynes' block in navy blue, light blue, and yellow moon with a light blue river flowing across the mountain with the name of the Guild written in the river was chosen as the winner.

Monthly meetings consist of a business meeting, where workshops and classes are arranged. Subjects of all classes relate to quiltmaking. After the business meeting, a program demonstration or lesson is given. Then show and tell, where members show completed items or items they are working on. Refreshments are served and very fine fellowship is enjoyed by all.

The highlight of the organization is the annual Quilt Show held the first weekend in November of each year. Demonstrations are held, a craft sale is available along with quilt supplies from vendors of various quilt stores, and door prizes are given away. Judging of quilts and wallhangings is completed with ribbons awarded in each category.

Scrap Baggers Quilt Guild original founding members as of October 1986:

Mary Bridgwater - McAlester, OK
Bobbie Cooper - Hartshorne, OK
Jan Cramer - Crowder, OK
Jean Frasco - Savanna, OK
Alice Gordon - Indianola, OK
Holis C. Hall - McAlester, OK
Helen Haynes - McAlester, OK
Mary Ann Kregear - McAlester, OK
Ann McCoy - Crowder, OK
Elizabeth McKenzie - McAlester, OK
Billie R. Nowabbi - Hartshorne, OK
Lorena Onie Pelley - McAlester, OK
Rosa Pollock - McAlester, OK
Joy Reitz - Krebs, OK
Greta Sartin (Cowan)- McAlester, OK
Golda Smith - McAlester, OK
Lea Sterigel - Crowder, OK
Alice Thompson - McAlester, OK
Ida Mae West - Bache, OK
Alta Lake - McAlester, OK