Let’s talk about the Underground Railroad and quilts.
This lovely quilt, based on the Log Cabin pattern, is actually a coded symbol to slaves on the run. It would have hung on a clothesline of a safe house.
The traditional log cabin pattern, which emerged in the 1830s, featured a red square at the center of each individual pattern. Sure enough, all the squares around the perimeter have that red center. But the rest have various shades of yellow, and THAT’S the indication to runaways of a safe house.
Furthermore, quilts in which black and yellow predominate are another indication of a safe house. Squint your eyes looking at this quilt, and suddenly black & yellow diagonal stripes pop right out. From a distance, that would’ve been the first thing a person would notice about this quilt.
If you’re interested in the other 9 quilt symbols used in Underground Railroad quilts, spend some time reading Stefanie Bohde Norlin’s paper “The Underground Railroad Quilt Code”
Here’s the full article: https://bit.ly/3x9AOgx
What a fascinating historical interpretation of the Log Cabin quilt pattern! You’re referring to the theory that quilts were used as coded signals for enslaved people escaping through the Underground Railroad. The Log Cabin pattern, with its red center and surrounding fabric, is often mentioned in discussions of these “quilt codes.” The idea is that quilts hung on clotheslines or displayed at safe houses could serve as visual cues to guide runaway slaves to safety.
The Log Cabin Quilt Code:
– The Red Center: The red square in the center of the Log Cabin pattern could symbolize the hearth or home. It is said that the red square could signify a safe haven or that the home was a place of warmth and refuge, which may have been a coded message for those escaping slavery.
– Yellow Shades: The yellow hues around the central red square are said to indicate a specific direction or perhaps a special place, as you pointed out. The combination of colors, especially yellow and black, may have had a symbolic meaning, possibly directing runaways to a particular safe house or signaling safety in the vicinity.
Black & Yellow Stripes:
The black and yellow color pairing in quilts is particularly notable. The diagonal stripes of black and yellow could have been interpreted as a visual cue to guide runaways to a specific destination, like a safe house. This also fits with the idea that quilts were not just decorative but used with intent, sometimes woven with hidden messages.
Other Quilt Codes:
As you mentioned, there are other quilt patterns said to have been used as coded messages by the Underground Railroad network. Some of these include:
– Monkey Wrench: Indicating that the runaways should gather tools or be prepared for the journey.
– Flying Geese: A signal to head in a particular direction, often north toward freedom.
– Bow Tie: A sign that the escapee should go to a specific place or that a key was at hand (like a key to freedom).
There are many theories surrounding the use of quilts as signaling devices, and while it’s still debated among historians, the idea that quilts were used as part of the Underground Railroad adds another layer of historical complexity and richness to the practice of quilting.
Thank you for sharing the link to Stefanie Bohde Norlin’s paper. It’s a great resource for anyone interested in exploring the topic in more detail. The use of quilts as coded symbols is a fascinating and powerful example of how art, culture, and resistance intersected during a critical time in American history.
Would you like to explore more about the meanings of other quilt patterns or the role of the Underground Railroad?