What do I do with paper backed quilt pieces?

My mom use to sew scrap material to tv guide size pages of paper with the intention of one day making a quilt. Now that she has died. I have these quilt pieces and would like to make a quilt with them. They are approx. 4X6 inches. I have ironed them and trimmed them, but I do not know what to do with the paper backing. I am afraid of removing it, it may break the threads. I was told that in the old days, quilts were sewn together with the paper in tact. Is this so? How do I make a quilt out of these scraps? Please help!