In Stitched from the Soul (1990), Gladys-Marie 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. The theory that quilts and songs were used to communicate information about the Underground Railroad though is disputed among historians. Even so, escaping slavery was generally an act of “complex, sophisticated and covert systems of planning”.

I don’t know if that is true or not. I really did not study the history of America because my specialty was Medieval History circa 1200. It seems to be an interesting topic on Wikipedia and I encourage you all to read about it. I, also, encourage you to come to the Quilt Show at the Arkansas Methodist Museum in Little Rock.

It is open on Wednesday’s from 9:30 to 3 or by appointment.
Located on lower level of historic
First United Methodist Church
723 Center St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-412-3294