The Friends of Case Memorial Library will host a Zoom program titled “Pre-Civil War Quilts: The Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad” on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.
During the presentation, Connie Martin, a long-standing expert on the quilts of the antebellum period, will reveal the hidden patterns that helped enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad. Delving into the secret messages woven into these colorful, hand-crafted works, she will explore their different meanings and interpretations.
As part of her talk, Martin will provide illustrations of pre-Civil War quilts; replicas of actual quilts that enslaved persons used on their journey will be displayed and discussed.
“I will share codes in the quilts that signify routes that ancestors, or quilter’s descendants, may have taken to escape to freedom in Canada,” Martin explained. “I will also explore how African American slaves used special hidden stitching techniques to communicate during this pivotal time in history.”
Registration is required at casememoriallibrary.org or by calling 203-891-2170. The program link will be sent the afternoon of Jan. 7.