AN EVENING WITH CONNIE MARTIN
"Sometimes a quilt is just a quilt.
Other times, it is a secret message offering a safe route to freedom"
This historical presentation is a multi-media experience including slide presentation, storytelling and display of over a dozen beautifully hand-crafted quilt replicas, representing patterns and special stitching used over 300 years ago by abolitionists and fugitive slaves to signify escape routes to the North. Connie Martin, MA, will show how quilts were used to signal plans, warn of dangers, indicate how transport might occur and who might help as “Friends” on the Underground Railroad.
Meanings and Interpretations behind different patterning will be revealed as Connie shares codes in the quilts that signify routes that ancestors, or quilter's descendants, may have taken to escape to freedom in Canada. Connie will also explore how African-American slaves used special hidden stitching techniques to communicate during this pivotal time in history.
The stories date back to Connie's 6th generation grandparents who were devoted to the pursuit of freedom. Research has been compiled from many different sources such as an 1850's family Bible, pictures, interviews, ancestors of abolitionists, national archives, registries, as well as antique Pre-Civil War dated quilts.
About Connie Martin
Connie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University, and a Master of Arts degree from Aurora University with a Thesis in Integrating African-American History Lessons in educational curriculums. She is currently a fitness teacher, a CEC Provider and a Quilt Presenter of the Anti-Bellum period. She is affectionately called a "Quilt Whisperer."
Her mother, Dr. Clarice Boswell, retired teacher, counselor, and administrator, created this presentation 20 years ago. Connie watched her many times, listened, and learned wonderful stories of her relatives and ancestors' great historical past. When Connie retired from 32 years of teaching, her mother passed the presentation on to her to continue sharing the secret codes, stories, and her legacy for all to hear and share.
Learn more about Connie:
The Zoom meeting room will open at 6:15 and the meeting will begin at 6:30 Mountain time. Guests are also welcome to attend this meeting for $8.00. Please register ahead of time and ensure that you know how to use Zoom prior to the meeting. The link will come by email when you register.
ACQ Members: Please sign in and register for free—it's so helpful to know how many are coming AND you'll be eligible for door prizes when you register. You will find the Show & Tell submission form on the Members-only page.
