This textile, called a "crazy quilt" because of the irregular-shaped patches, bold colors, and random patterns, was made in 1884. This particular piece is just one of many wonderful textiles in our collection. In 1963 Helen Weber decided that she would donate several family items, writing in a letter. "I do feel that they are handsomely done with a certain perfection about them. What a constructive way some of the women in the [1880s] had of occupying their time while their men were riding the range or busy at the mines which as the case here."

In a thank you letter to the donor, Orian L. Lewis, deputy curator of the museum at that time, wrote, "I believe that we both feel that items of historic interest are most wisely used when they are preserved for the future. Many objects are lost to the people and museums of the world, when discarded or sold by descendants of the original owners."

Here at the Colorado Historical Society, we spend much of our time on "preventive conservation." This is a museum term that simply means that we do whatever we can to protect the artifacts that are in our care. This may mean cleaning an object, providing a safe storage environment, or in the case of the quilt pictured here, making a repair that will prevent further degradation.

Crazy quilts were popular between 1875 and 1920 and were most often made from luxurious fabrics, such as velvets and satins. They often contained mementos from the makers’ lives, such as souvenir ribbons and embroidered family initials. These types of fabric can be very fragile, and therefore many of the patches in these quilts have become brittle and abraided over time. To prevent further damage from occurring, fine netting is stitched over the top of damaged areas.

We thank all of our donors for entrusting their family history to us. We strive to provide the best possible care for these treasures so that they will be available for generations to come.

By Catrina Elia, Director of Collections Management