Crazy Quilts on Display
This page was developed to list information about crazy quilts and crazy quilted objects on display in public places.
The information came from several sources including museum staff and crazy quilt enthusiasts. In contacting museums to inquire about their collections, I discovered that many museums have wonderful examples of crazy quilts in their collections. However, due to the deteriorating effect that light has on old silk and other fibers, most of the quilts are not on permanent display. Most museums hold temporary displays which include their crazy quilts. Many also offer private viewings of their crazy quilts to interested people. Private viewings are set up on a pre-arranged appointment. It is always best to call or write ahead because many museums do not have the staff to accomodate drop-in visitors.Where possible I will include the contact person to set up a private viewing. If you decide to persue a private viewing of a museum's quilts, please remember that most museums have limited staff and space for such a viewing.
The museum information is below. If you have any additional information about crazy quilts on display at these musuems or any other public place please send it to me at dsmith@centuryinter.net
I would especially like to receive missing addresses, phone numbers and other contact information. Of course information on museums not on the list is always welcome.
Australia
|
Powerhouse Museum Australia |
They have a number of crazy quilts in their collection, including a rather interesting Australian variety called a Wagga. |
| National Gallery of Australia Canberra |
They have the the Rajah quilt, made by convict women on the voyage out from England, which is quite wonderful. Also the Christina Brown quilt an 1890s crazy quilt. that has some amazing flower embroidery on it - there's a calla lily that a horticulturalist could use as a species type, it's so exact, adorable penny square and Kate Greenaway outline embroidery, and fabric painting. |
Canada
| Musueum of Natural History Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Postcard available |
| Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Lunenburg, Nova Scotia |
They have a fabulous crazy quilt displayed horizontally under glass. |
| The Nova Scotia Museum | They have 4-5 crazy quilts available
for private viewing with a member of the staff.
They also have a travelling exhibit "Old Nova Scotia Quilts"
which includes crazy quilts.
Click to see photo. Postcard available |
| Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto Click for web page | |
| McCord Museum of Canadian History 690 Sherbrooke St. West Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E9
Contact: Curator of Costume and Textiles | |
| Canadian Museum of Civilization Ottawa, Ontario |
Click to see photo. |
United States
| Sharlot Hall Museum Prescott, Arizona | Click to see photo. |
| Rogers Historical Museum 322 S. Second St. Rogers, AR 72756 501/621-1154 e-mail: alord@comp.uark.edu |
They have crazy quilts, but they're not currently on display. |
| Colorado Springs Museum e-mail: COSMUSEUM@aol.com |
The Colorado Springs Museum has an extensive collection of quilts (over 250) and there is a gallery dedicated to their exhibition. Some of these are crazy quilts. |
| Museum of Florida History | Click to see photo. |
| Museum of Arts and Sciences 4182 Forsyth Road Macon, GA, USA 912-477-3232 | |
| Indianapolis Museum of Art (317) 923-1331 |
Has an exquisite crazy quilt. It may be on display in their textile gallery. You can call them and ask to see slides of the piece or their collection. |
| Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum Kalona, Iowa | |
| Kentucky Museum Western Kentucky University One Big Red Way Bowling Green, KY 42101
Contact Registrar/Collections Curator |
The collection includes twenty-five crazy quilts. Many of these are photographed in different publications. For information on these publications see the Crazy Quilt in Print page.
Research access to the quilt collection is possible by appointment. |
| Kentucky Historical Society Frankfort, Kentucky | |
| The Filson Club Louisville, Kentucky |
They own the Ella Bowling Umphrey Quilt, an asolutely splendid crazy quilt. |
| The Museum of American Quilter's Society (MAQS) Paducah , Kentucky e-mail: jzz_110@APEX.NET | |
| The New England Quilt Museum 18 Shattuck Street Lowell, MA 01825 http://www.tiac.net/users/mps/ |
Slides available by mail. |
| The Alfred P. Sloan Museum Flint, MI |
They have several crazy quilts. Perhaps the most astonishing quilt in the collection is a crazy made from civil war coat. |
| Michigan State University Museum 101 West Circle Drive East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045
Contact: Melanie Atkinson |
Crazy quilts are available for viewing in the musuem's collections storage area with a prearranged appointment. They have several crazy quilts in their extensive quilt collection, including a Native American Crazy Star quilt by Nellie Menard, National Heritage Fellowship awardee. |
| University of Nebraska | "The University of Nebraska has just been given the quilt collection of Ardis and Robert James, who have the quilt I used on the cover of my Crazy Quilts book. The University will be starting a Center for the Quilt which will be a wonderful research facility. The James'es had many wonderful crazy quilts that will now be in Nebraska." - Penny McMorris |
| General Crook House Museum Omaha, Nebraska |
They have a wonderful antique crazy quilt. |
| Cincinnati Art Museum Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Benton County Historical Museum Philomath, Oregon e-mail: bchm@peak.org |
They have a crazy quilt (a true murder mystery) in their collection. I am not sure if it currently is on display. |
| Southern Oregon Historical Society
Contact: Curator of Collections Southern Oregon Historical Society 106 N. Central Ave. Medford, OR 97501 541-773-6536 phone e-mail: collects@cdsnet.net |
Their crazy quilts are not on exhibit, but can be seen by appointment. |
| Smithsonian Institution |
Crazy Patchwork Slumber Throw dated about 1885. Click to see photo. |
| THE MUSEUM FOR TEXTILES An online musuem |
© 1997
This page designed by Dawn Smith.
Last updated October 17, 1997.
Get your own Free Home Page