Creator of AIDS Memorial Quilt, Names Project Foundation Reach Agreement Over Return of Quilt Panels

The Atlanta-based Names Project Foundation -- which owns the AIDS Memorial Quilt -- and Cleve Jones -- who started the now 50-ton quilt in 1987 and served as its spokesperson for 15 years -- have reached an agreement over the return of a portion of the quilt to San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The two parties, who had been battling over the issue in court for two years, came close to reaching an agreement last month, but negotiations collapsed when both parties could not agree on a written settlement. Angela Alioto, Jones' attorney, filed a motion with the San Francisco Superior Court to make the transcript of the oral agreement between the two sides the legal, written settlement. The Names Foundation on Monday filed a statement of non-opposition to Alioto's motion. Under the agreement, Jones will receive 35 blocks of the quilt after he creates a San Francisco-based organization to oversee them. The settlement also entitles Jones to nominate four finalists for two positions on the foundation's board of directors. The parties also agreed to put a link to Jones' Web site on the foundation's site, and the foundation will return the first quilt panel to Jones, who made it to honor his best friend. The settlement is expected to become official after a hearing next week when a judge approves the two filings, the foundation's attorney, Charles Thompson, said (Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/14).