As Black History Month came to a close, Connie Martin, an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, shared with the Harper community her presentation on “Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad” in the J Theatre (J143) on Friday from 1PM-2:55PM.
Attendees listened to an oral history of the meanings behind certain quilt codes, what freedom seekers experienced on the Underground Railroad, and who conducted the movement.
Martin brought with her several coded quilts that she showed to the audience while presenting. These quilts were the replicas of the over 200 year old ones that her great great grandmother owned.
One pattern she showcased was Bear’s Paw, a design still commonly seen in the craft today. On the Underground Railroad, it was used as a message to tell freedom seekers to look for and follow actual bear tracks to find water and food.
“I like the ideals in that pattern… because I like the idea that [freedom seekers]… knew that if they followed the bear’s paws tracks on these river banks and streams… that they would eat the raw fish, that they would eat the raw turtles to live,” Martin shared. “It was nutrition. They couldn’t think of it as food. [They] had to think about it as nutrition to live.”
The event attracted 16 attendees, one of which being J Theatre Technician and Harper student, Sarah Agolli.
“I thought [the event] was very informative, and I really enjoy learning about this specific part of history,” Agolli said.
What Agolli found fascinating was learning about all the different people who contributed to the facilitation of the Underground Railroad, and how songs such as “Follow the Drinking Gourd” were used by abolitionists as coded messages of direction for freedom seekers.
“The fact that they would sing, I [thought] ‘Oh, I know some of these. I’ve heard people talk about them,’ Agolli said. “So to me, that was also very interesting how the arts convened.”
Martin displayed a variety of books about African American history at the front left of the stage including children’s stories, biographies of famous abolitionists, and copies of Lizzie’s Story: A Slave Family’s Journey to Freedom, written by Martin’s mother, Clarice C. Boswell.
This book is an account of Martin’s family history, and their trials as tribulations as abolitionists on a plantation in 19th century Kentucky.
“Even the plantation was large, about a 56 acre plantation [with] 50 slaves on the plantation, and the biggest thing about that is only four people, four slaves knew the quilt codes,” Martin explained.
This extensive knowledge of the past was passed down through oral history from Martin’s great great grandmother, Lizzie.
Towards the end of her presentation, Martin revealed the news that her mother’s book is currently being made into a film. The title is to be Freedom Code, and is currently in production. The release date of it is still unknown.
To see this film come to fruition would be “like a gift from God,” Martin added.
After the event, attendees had the chance to purchase a copy of her mother’s book for twenty-five dollars, and have it personally signed by Martin.
To learn more about Connie Martin, visit her Illinois Humanities profile.
For upcoming events, check out the Harper’s Events Calendar and stay posted on the Harbinger’s Instagram @harbstudentnews.
