Carol Stream Woman's Club to host program on 'Pre-Civil War Quilts' Oct. 15
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Carol Stream Woman's Club and the Carol Stream Historical Society will host a program on "Pre-Civil War Quilts: The Secret Codes to Freedom Through the Underground Railroad" by Connie Martin.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church, 401 Cochise St., Carol Stream.
Quilts are generally thought of as warm and comforting. They are by their very nature, a reflection of creativity, as well.
To the African-American slaves seeking safe passage to freedom during pre-Civil War times, they meant much more.
Connie Martin will share the meaning and messages of the special quilts created during the era. She will show how patterns and special stitchery was used to help guide slaves to freedom as they journeyed the underground railroad.
Martin follows in the footsteps of her mother, the talented quilter and retired educator Dr. Clarice Boswell, who developed the presentation 20 years ago.
The stories surrounding the messages and secret codes contained in the quilts were gleaned from family stories and historical research.
Though the decorative quilt patterns Martin uses are replicas, she has the originals which date to the 1850s.
Their secret codes were handed down by oral tradition from one generation to the next. The tradition is also documented in the family's Bible.
Tickets for "Pre-Civil War Quilts" are $15.
To order tickets, mail checks made to "The Carol Stream Woman's Club" to: Quilt Program - Carol Stream Historical Society, P.O. Box 88791, Carol Stream, IL 60188-8791.
Please include email and/or phone number for order confirmation.