The theory that quilts and songs were used to communicate information about the underground railroad. The underground railroad used a series of quilt codes to direct freedom seekers. The quilt top was finished into a lightweight quilt, raffled off for the benefit of the edwards historical association and won by an appreciative teacher at edwardsknox central school, chris backus, who plans to use it in her classroom. The underground railroad national geographic society. Underground railroad quilt california against slavery.
Students will learn about the underground railroad and african american quilt motifs and make cut paper quilt patterns based on copies of actual motifs or make their own patterns. As communication devices and fundraisers alike, these antislavery quilts were precursors to the tens of thousands of quilts made by both southern and northern women just a few short. Feb 1, 2020 people have long believed that the symbols used in quilts of the south during slavery were actually used as secret messages for slaves escaping on the underground railroad. Mary taylorunderground railroad quilt code secret messages in the form of quilt patterns aided slaves escaping the bonds of captivity in the southern states before and during the american civil war. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks. Quilt codes of the underground railroad by debra bays tpt. The most famous telling of a quilt code says that indeed, quilts were a vital part of the underground railroad, and their history with it was unwritten until very recently. Sampler quilt for the underground railroad edwards. Underground railroad quilt guide really good stuff. Their patterns and blocks were a code, providing direction, signifying safety, and issuing warnings according to some historians. Email or drop in to register and receive your class requirements sheet. The railroad used many routes from states in the south, which supported slavery, to free states in the north and canada. Many people who had lived in slavery saw no other way out. Some people believe that certain classic quilt blocks were used to send messages to slaves escaping to freedom on the underground railroad.
Some historians float the issue that many of the quilt patterns cited as directives for enslaved peoples. Learn more about iowas role at museums located around the state, many housed in former underground railroad stops. The north star is the last block in the underground railroad sampler quilt. Secret codes of quilt kokoro underground railroad quilts, civil. The underground railroad quilt code patterns adapted from ozella mcdaniel williams, as reported in hidden in plain view. This quilt told slaves to look for this symbol on their journey to freedom.
We use our families legacy of being ugrr abolitionist to build. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad by jacqueline l. Is it any wonder that this nine patch quilt block called underground railroad would be a directional type of block featuring a definite path. Well, yes, i answer, i have definitely heard about quilt blocks being used on the underground railroad.
The underground railroad from slavery to freedom by wilbur h. The folklore of certain quilts being used as symbols has been presumed true by many, with books hidden in plain view. Once heard, these names could tell a story or communicate a vital piece of information simply by looking at the patterns or stitches. Underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series. Often times, slaves were prepared for their journey north by using a quilt sampler to instruct about what tools to accompany them on the journey. Railroad by learning about the quiltsand the secret escape codes. Another variation was a yellow central square, indicating a light or beacon in the wilderness. Known as the freedom quilt patterns, these quilts were displayed as. Just a few are jacobs ladder, underground railroad, road to california, off to san francisco, gone to chicago, stepping stones and trail of the covered wagon. The underground railroad was a network of people, african american as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped slaves from the south. Shoofly quilts are made up of small squares and triangles. Hidden in plain view, based on interviews with elderly african american quilter ozella williams, seems to tell the story of how symbols were.
The underground railroad freedom quilt codes youtube. The underground railroad quilt block is one of a group of blocks that are directional in design, which offers up many creative possibilities for designing your. Quilts from the underground railroad, part 1 youtube. These classic quilt blocks have a hidden message live. Besides offering wonderful results as you place your blocks in your quilt, directional blocks are good choices to use as connector blocks, used side by side with a different block which results in a secondary pattern emerging. Underground railroad sampler also includes a color page depicting the story of the underground railroad that can be photocopied onto photo transfer fabric and included in the quilt. The quilts were hung outside of homes along the underground railroad to let the slaves know what was safe or unsafe, and. In stitched from the soul 1990, gladysmarie fry asserted that quilts were used to communicate safe houses and other information about the underground railroad, which was a network through the united states and into canada of conductors, meeting places, and safe houses for the passage of african americans out of slavery.
Dobard published their bestseller, hidden in plain view. They represented an actual person who might have helped escaping slaves. In fact, iowa was an integral part of the underground railroad from the 1840s to the 1860s. There is much written about the use of quilts during the underground railroad days. Just because people would like it to be true, doesnt mean its so. Underground railroad free quilt block pattern patchwork square. Really good stuff activity guide underground railroad. The underground railroad was the network used by enslaved black americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the civil war 18601865. Eleanor burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slavemade quilts and the underground railroad. Join eleanor burns and sue bouchard as they guide you through the story of the underground railroad. Underground railroad quilt code catbird quilt studio. And the authors simply mention that the book and patterns are inspired by ozella mcdaniel williams story, they make no claim to the book being factual. Includes lesson plan, powerpoint, rubric, and quilt jpg files. Underground railroad quilt myth quilt history myths.
A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad. Underground railroad quilt block meanings in 2020 crazy. Come and learn the meaning of the blocks said to have lent the slaves a helping hand to freedom. The underground railroad was actually a carefully organized movement against the people who owned slaves and the governments that said they could do this. Underground railroad log cabin quilts often had a black center indicating a safe house. Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day.
To view some of these stunning quilts go to threads of freedom. In hidden in plain view, historian jacqueline tobin and scholar raymond dobard offer the first proof that certain quilt patterns, including a prominent one called the charleston code, were, in fact, essential tools for escape along the underground railroad. Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day books. History and tagged abolition, history, quilt history, slavery, textile history, underground railroad, underground railroad quilt code on may 18, 2014 by melanie mcneil. The unvarnished truth contains more beauty than a romantic fable. But, in doing so, they and the people who helped them broke many laws of the time. I asked tindall what the flying geese quilt pattern meant and how it assisted runaways on the underground railroad. Seldom do we find a quilt pattern with just one name.
But i love puzzles and patterns and am fascinated at how quilters create works of art out of scraps, creative minds, skilled hands and patience. I recently learned of underground railroad quilt, a legend or myth of how quilts were used to communicate with escaping slaves. Quilts from underground railroad patterns free quilt. Underground railroad signal quilt during the 1800s the log cabin quilt pattern always used red as the center square to represent the heart or hearth of the home. The seamstress would hang the quilts in full view one at a time, allowing the slaves to reinforce their memory of the pattern and its associated. November, 2019 post a comment riding the underground railroad panel discussion grinnell the edwards history and genealogy center sampler quilt secret codes of quiltsome of these were in our. Just as todays children know all the slang for video games, so the slave children knew all the names of quilt patterns. This pattern was used to let the slaves know where safe houses were. There is so much more to african american quilting history than the idea that quilts might have been used in the ugrr. Sometimes, routes of the underground railroad were organized by abolitionists, people who opposed slavery. People who helped the underground railroad may have identified themselves as friends to slaves on the run by tracing this pattern in dirt as a signal. Underground railroad, monkey wrench, wagon wheel, carpenters wheel, bears paw, basket, crossroads, log cabin, shoofly, bow tie, flying geese, birds in the air, drunkards path, sail boat.
Quilts of the underground railroad describes a controversial belief that quilts were used to. This power point presentation by debra bays tells the story of the role of quilt blocks in the journey north along the underground railroad. Known as the freedom quilt patterns, these quilts were displayed as signals to slaves that they should begin to pack for the journey wagon wheel,dress up shoofly and. Consider finding other sources of information about black american quilting than the underground railroad quilt myth.
Learn how fifteen quilt blocks may have played a significant role in communication between the slaves and how it helped them on their way to freedom. This activity is included with my show way book studyplease do not purchase. Underground railroad quilt patterns and meanings quilt. During the civil war they would color this block black and hang the quilt on the clothesline to signal runaway slaves that this is a safe house. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad in 2000 from authors jacqueline l. The secret story of quilts and the underground railroad, new pathways into quilt history. The image, borrowed from britains society for the abolition of the slave trade, became an icon of the abolitionist movement on both sides of the atlantic. This quilt poster and guide is packed with ideas for helping children study the underground. Sharon tindall uses a historical pattern made up of triangles and rectangles called flying geese. Unravelling the myth of quilts and the underground railroad. This idea has been stuck in my head for awhile, ever since i heard about how quilts were used to communicate to runaway slaves on the underground railroad. This video is a member of the group and speaks about the significance of quilts in the underground railroad and how symbols in the quilts helped. Two historians say african american slaves may have used a quilt code to navigate the underground railroad.
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