Quilts in African American culture

The quilt on the right is titled Black family Album (1854). Representative of her black family's traditions, heritage, and lineage,
its creator used the technique of applique to literally paste her family album onto a lasting fabric. This technique is very common
in African tribes as well as continuing on to early American traditions. It is a lasting way to record family events such as birth,
marriage, geographical location, and spiritual dedication. On the left is a quilt made in 1938 that display's the same type of
cultural information about the creator's family and plantation life. (images and text by Jamie Leigh Undergraduate Student, American Studies Program, University of Virginia )

Quilt by Harriet Powers. Born a slave, she is considered one of the finest quilters known from the 19th Century. Double-click to enlarge.

There were a number of quilting patterns associated with the abolitionist movement, including the Underground Railroad, Jacob's Ladder, North Star, and Slave Chain. Oral legend reports that these quilts made in with these patterns, when displayed in the open, meant a safe resting place on the underground railroad. See below for specifics quilting codes.

Quilt codes used to direct escaped slaves.
Click to enlarge