Learn about secret messages of pre-Civil War-era quilts Sept. 30
The West Chicago Public Library District is hosting a virtual program on "Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad" from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.
Join Connie Martin for a multimedia experience including a Power Point slide presentation, storytelling, and display of over a dozen beautifully handcrafted quilt replicas, representing patterns and special stitching used over 300 years ago by abolitionists and fugitive slaves to signify escape routes to the North.
It is shown how quilts were used to signal plans, warn of dangers, indicate how transport might occur, or who might help as "Friends" on the Underground Railroad.
Martin tells the fascinating family stories of how these quilt codes were kept and used by her ancestors.
Learn the code meanings and interpretations that have been passed down to Connie, a 6th generation descendant of captured African slaves.
A classroom teacher for over 30 years, Martin trained under the guidance of her mother, a talented quilter and retired educator, Dr. Clarice Boswell, to share with audiences the hidden codes and secret messages within their family's 18 handcrafted quilts. Quilt research relies on oral anecdotes and written memory that Martin and her mother developed into their unique presentation.
To register, visit wcpld.info.
For questions, contact Omar Nunez, West Chicago Public Library District, at ask@wcpld.info or (630) 231-1552.