What is the "Quilt Code" ?-
The "Quilt Code" is a system of African-based symbols stitched into quilts created by slaves. These quilts were hung from clothes lines or in windows, offering secret instructions to runaway slaves. But is the "Quilt Code" a legitimate Underground Railroad missing link, overlooked until recent decades, or is it an elaborate marketing scheme created to sell books and quilts?
Sarah Center Quilters - Quilting The Code:
In 2003 the Sarah Center Quilters, part of a Cincinnati women's ministry, created "Quilt Code" squares believing placement for sale in the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center gift shop was a done deal. A Freedom Center contact had passed along her excitement over the recently discovered slave tradition and implied, once they opened, the museum would be a ready market for the squares.
The Sarah Center Quilters, most of whom were inner city residents, held classes on Thursdays and learned beginner to advanced techniques. Like the Sarah Center Jewelry artists, the quilters earn a supplementary income selling their creations at local shops and craft shows. The "Quilt Code" squares would open up a whole new market, they believed; so the quilt instructor purchased a book with photos of the squares, instructions and details on the coded messages. The women worked hard to learn the techniques and began crafting the squares as wall hangings, excited at the prospect of work so significant.
The "Quilt Code" - Reality or Myth?
Under the impression that the Freedom Center gift shop would sell their "Code" squares, Sarah Center representatives attempted to set up a meeting with the shop buyer. They were taken aback when their phone calls got no response.
The "Quilt Code" is a system of African-based symbols stitched into quilts created by slaves. These quilts were hung from clothes lines or in windows, offering secret instructions to runaway slaves. But is the "Quilt Code" a legitimate Underground Railroad missing link, overlooked until recent decades, or is it an elaborate marketing scheme created to sell books and quilts?
Sarah Center Quilters - Quilting The Code:
In 2003 the Sarah Center Quilters, part of a Cincinnati women's ministry, created "Quilt Code" squares believing placement for sale in the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center gift shop was a done deal. A Freedom Center contact had passed along her excitement over the recently discovered slave tradition and implied, once they opened, the museum would be a ready market for the squares.
The Sarah Center Quilters, most of whom were inner city residents, held classes on Thursdays and learned beginner to advanced techniques. Like the Sarah Center Jewelry artists, the quilters earn a supplementary income selling their creations at local shops and craft shows. The "Quilt Code" squares would open up a whole new market, they believed; so the quilt instructor purchased a book with photos of the squares, instructions and details on the coded messages. The women worked hard to learn the techniques and began crafting the squares as wall hangings, excited at the prospect of work so significant.
The "Quilt Code" - Reality or Myth?
Under the impression that the Freedom Center gift shop would sell their "Code" squares, Sarah Center representatives attempted to set up a meeting with the shop buyer. They were taken aback when their phone calls got no response.
Comments
I love this sarticle, makes you wonder if the quilt codes were real and wonder what will happen to all the efforts of the present day quilters, I kind of think we would have heard of them earlier than the 90's, also so many people from all corners of Africa, there would not have been a shared oral tradition of symbols understood by all
:)
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