Back in the days when slavery was prevalent, and the civil war was quickly approaching there were people who were bound and determined to help slaves reach their goal of freedom. Cafepress vintage underground railroad quilt mug unique coffee mug, coffee cup. This railroad quilt pattern is part of the popular underground railway quilts from the 19th century. Make your own secret quilt message pathways to freedom. 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. However, i used it as a visual guide on what these quilts may have looked like, and how conductors used them to direct fugitive slaves to freedom road.
Quilts from the underground railroad, part 1 youtube. These quilts were embedded with a kind of code, so that by reading the shapes and. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks as well as directions to make a miniature underground railroad quilt. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad, published by historian jacqueline tobin and scholar raymond dobard. Well if not, a brief history is that it was not a train at all, but a secret network of people who assisted slaves during the 19th century to escape from the southern states, staying in secret and hidden safe houses on the way. Sue bouchard and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Jul 21, 2019 the underground railroad has always been an interest. Underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series. Underground railroad, monkey wrench, wagon wheel, carpenters wheel, bears paw, basket, crossroads, log cabin, shoofly, bow tie. However, it is an example of what could be considered a freedom quilt with the flying geese design. Underground railroad quilts colebrook historical society. Sharon tindall, colorful underground railroad sampler, 2008, cotton, 88 x 70.
Wheel quilts have a round pattern and during the era of the underground railroad, wagons with hidden compartments were one of the primary means of transporting runaways. Underground railroad was and how african slaves, known as. Super black history projects for kids underground railroad 53 ideas civil war reproduction quilts are incredibly popular and offer history lessons wrapped around sewing and. According to legend, a safe house along the underground railroad was often indicated by a quilt hanging from a clothesline or windowsill. Aug 19, 2016 however, it is an example of what could be considered a freedom quilt with the flying geese design. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad, african americans designed quilts with secret codes directing the way to freedom and safe houses along the route north. Underground railroad sampler by eleanor burns alibris. Having already read a biography on harriet tubman, my son had a basic foundation of knowledge on the underground railroad. Since 1978 when she selfpublished her first book make a quilt in a day. Sampler quilt for the underground railroad edwards history. Mar 24, 2010 the underground railroad quilts squares where made with codes to help the slaves to freedom. Sharon tindall uses a historical pattern made up of triangles and rectangles called flying geese. The idea of coded quilts became popular due to a 1999 book entitled hidden in plain view.
Slaves reportedly made coded quilts and then used them to navigate their escape. History and tagged abolition, history, quilt history, slavery, textile history, underground railroad, underground railroad quilt code on may 18, 2014 by melanie mcneil. Begin by sharing this poster front, plus readaloud books and. Some people believe that certain classic quilt blocks were used to send messages to slaves escaping to freedom on the underground railroad. May 03, 2019 sharon tindall uses a historical pattern made up of triangles and rectangles called flying geese. This book tells how hannah and her papa escaped from slavery along the underground railroad. The history of the underground railroad discussed throughout the book is very brief. 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 quilt underground railroad quilts. Really good stuff activity guide underground railroad quilt guide. Many people who had lived in slavery saw no other way out. After more than 5 generations our research now has many of the answers i have seen or been asked over the past 30 years. History books, family history, underground railroad, civil war quilts, harriet tubman, cultural experience. This particular picture railroad quilt pattern 17 best images about underground railroad quilt blocks on earlier mentioned moh 4 wk 10 quilt codes for underground railroad quilt.
Jun 27, 2014 having already read a biography on harriet tubman, my son had a basic foundation of knowledge on the underground railroad. Underground railroad quilt underground railroad, quilts. Coded quilts and the underground railroad object of the week. Ive read your blog from time to time, but especially after i picked up the book in st. 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. These classic quilt blocks have a hidden message live play eat. Super black history projects for kids underground railroad 53 ideas civil war reproduction quilts are incredibly popular and offer history lessons wrapped around sewing and piecing. Underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series 97818917767 by eleanor burns. The patchwork pathby bettye stroud candlewick press, 2005. See more ideas about quilt blocks, quilt patterns and quilts.
Oct 22, 20 eleanor burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slavemade quilts and the underground railroad. I asked tindall what the flying geese quilt pattern meant and how it assisted runaways on the underground railroad. Jan 2, 2014 underground railroad quilt pattern from eleanor burns book. If, for example, there was an underground railroad agent in the area, dobard said. An elm creek quilts novel the elm creek quilts book 7. This pattern referred specifically to cleveland, oh, which was an underground railroad hub that offered access to various points.
Depending on the pattern, a seemingly innocent quilt left on a porch or fence or hung in a window could signal to slaves on the plantation to get. The north star is the last block in the underground railroad sampler quilt. I know quite a few people are working on urr quilts, so i wanted to make sure everyone knew in case they have the book. Join eleanor burns and sue bouchard as they guide you through the story of the underground railroad. When i started finding the codes for quilt blocks i couldnt contain my excitement. 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. The underground railroad freedom quilt codes dochelly. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad random house a family legend that said messages encoded in quilts.
The quilt that hannah and her late mother made together offers clues in the quilt blocks. Underground railroad quilt block meanings hubpages. Quilts with patterns named wagon wheel, tumbling blocks, and. The vox populi remains generally accepting of the book and its tale, regardless of the ensuing critique. A quilt with an evening star pattern, believed by some to be a secret code used by slaves to guide them along the underground railroad. You can use this product by itself to study the quilt codes and what they mean or you can use it with the book the patchwork path to work on comparing fiction and nonfiction. Strouds book filled in the rest explaining how quilt blocks held messages for hannah and her father on their journey from a georgia plantation to freedom in canada. This particular picture railroad quilt pattern 17 best images about underground railroad quilt blocks on earlier mentioned moh 4 wk 10 quilt codes for underground railroad quilt code. 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. Quilt in a day tv series, quilts from the underground railroad. Learning about the secret codes of the underground railroad is always interesting to kids. Nov 06, 2018 cafepress vintage underground railroad quilt mug unique coffee mug, coffee cup. Underground railroad civil war quiltblock of the month 2011 facts and fabrications. 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.
Old american quilts held a secret code that led thousands to. Finley also pictured a ninepatch variation she called underground railroad in that book. Apr 01, 2003 take a trip on the underground railroad. Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day. Just because people would like it to be true, doesnt mean its so. One renowned quilt historian, barbara brackman, has even written her own book to make matters clear. The underground railroad has always been an interest. She and her husband ran an underground railroad station in pennsylvania. It looks like it is yardage corrections for 4 different pages.
Jacqueline tobin and raymond dobard first posited the quilt code theory six years ago in their book hidden in plain view. The underground railroad from slavery to freedom by wilbur h. Make your own secret quilt message 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 quilt codes according to the book hidden in plain view. Underground railroad blocks underground railroad quilts. When jacqueline tobin and raymond dobard explored in their book hidden in plain view. Unravelling the myth of quilts and the underground railroad. A quilt of secondary importance in the list of escape quilts is the carpenters. Seldom do we find a quilt pattern with just one name. I was at the quilt in a day site yesterday making my list of sale books to look for this weekend. Underground railroad sampler 735272010685 quilt in a day books. It may have also referred to other intersections or choices, such. Underground railroad quilt code catbird quilt studio.
Dorothy logan in front of her quilt, holding the book the underground railroad sampler. The jacobs ladder pattern became the underground railroad quilt. The underground railroad quilt code the underground railroad quilt code was not the name used by my ancestors that organized and lead the enslave people in desperate escapes nor by the freedom seekers it assisted. Railroad quilt pattern part of the underground railroad. Slaves reportedly made coded quilts and then used them to navigate.
The underground railroad freedom quilt codes youtube. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step. Eleanor burns underground railroad sampler corrections. This book is actually a pattern book to teach quilters how to create underground railroad quilts. Apr 01, 2003 116 of 64 results for underground railroad quilt book underground railroad sampler quilt in a day series by eleanor burns and sue bouchard apr 1, 2003. Ruth finley gave the pattern the name railroad crossing in 1929 in her book old patchwork quilts. This quilt was a message to pack provisions for their journey as if they were packing a wagon. Eleanor burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slavemade quilts and the underground railroad. Quilts from underground railroad patterns free quilt patterns. May 21, 2011 ruth finley gave the pattern the name railroad crossing in 1929 in her book old patchwork quilts. I asked tindall what the flying geese quilt pattern meant and how it. See more ideas about quilt block patterns, underground railroad and quilts. The book contains yardage and cutting charts in addition to fabric identification pages that will assist the quilter in cutting and marking her fabric for this beautiful sampler. A secret story of quilts and the underground railroad, published in 1998.
There are also directions to make a miniature underground railroad quilt. Underground railroad, monkey wrench, wagon wheel, carpenters wheel, bears paw, basket, crossroads, log cabin, shoofly, bow tie, flying. The unvarnished truth contains more beauty than a romantic fable. However, i used it as a visual guide on what these quilts may. While every quilt made holds a special meaning to the quilter, there are some quilts and quilt blocks that have a much greater significance in the grand scheme of history. Unraveling the history of quilts and slavery presents her take on slavery, quilts and the underground railroad. Underground railroad sampler by eleanor burns goodreads. The book has 168 full color pages with step by step instructions for each of the 15 blocks as well as directions to make a. Underground railroad sampler quilting books patterns and. Log cabin pattern, she has authored over seventy five additional books.
Sue bouchard and a great selection of similar new, used and. According to legend, a safe house along the underground railroad was. Well, yes, i answer, i have definitely heard about quilt blocks being used on the underground railroad. Really good stuff activity guide underground railroad quilt. Several years later, quilter eleanor burns and sue bouchard became fascinated with williams story and created a sampler quilt based on the secret code, publishing the patterns in the book the underground railroad sampler.