A collection of 470 quilts created between 1870 and 2002 is now on display in McKinney, which is located approximately 11 miles south of Anna. The exhibit, titled the Crazy Days in May Quilt Expo, is held at the Church Street Auditorium near Chestnut Square Historic Village. The textiles originated from a private collection assembled over several decades by a single woman who sought a permanent home for the items rather than distributing them individually.
Museum Director Annie Quinn stated that the donor believed Chestnut Square was the appropriate institution to preserve the significant pieces while potentially distributing the remainder. As staff began cataloging the donation, they identified a high concentration of "crazy quilts." This discovery shifted the initial plan for a general textile display into a specialized exhibition highlighting these specific works.
Crazy quilts differ from traditional patchwork by embracing asymmetry and irregular shapes. The pieces utilize materials such as silk, wool, and velvet, which are stitched together and layered with embroidery, painted images, and appliqués. Head curation volunteer Dana Repp described the items as unique works of art rather than reproducible patterns, noting that each quilt contains distinct individual elements.
Visitors can find detailed hand-stitched designs including spiderwebs, owls, and floral motifs, alongside political ribbons, names, and beads. Some quilts incorporate fabric samples originally distributed by manufacturers, while others feature numerous artistic components within a single piece. The result is described as a visual scrapbook that conveys stories through texture and color.
The designs reflect broader cultural changes during the period in which they were made. Industrialization and the popularity of traveling shows introduced imagery of exotic animals such as elephants and tigers. Color choices were often influenced by Queen Victoria’s long period of mourning for Prince Albert, resulting in deep, rich tones. The asymmetrical style itself draws from Japanese art introduced at world’s fairs, challenging earlier American quilt traditions.
