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| Nancy on the right and me |
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| I'm on the lookout for this book to read our unfortunately my local library doesn't have a copy |
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| log cabin block in civil war fabrics made in EQ7 |
One block is the log cabin block. In the British Isles, it is often called "Canadian Logwork".Did the block originate in Europe and travel to the new world 'Canada' and then the US?
I am a second generation Canadian with European grandparents, neither of my grandmothers quilted that I know of. My paternal grandmother was from Finland she had a treadle sewing machine, that I used when at her house, but sadly no quilts. Julie sent me this link to read. How fascinating! There is also a good article on the Emporia State University site called the 'History of Quilting'.
Do you like to the history of quilting?
I am a second generation Canadian with European grandparents, neither of my grandmothers quilted that I know of. My paternal grandmother was from Finland she had a treadle sewing machine, that I used when at her house, but sadly no quilts. Julie sent me this link to read. How fascinating! There is also a good article on the Emporia State University site called the 'History of Quilting'.
Do you like to the history of quilting?
Quilt history is fascinating! Unfortunately, the story told in "Hidden in Plain View" has been widely discredited. This article from US News and World Report has an overview: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2007/06/24/were-quilts-used-as-underground-railroad-maps This is a story from one woman, and there is no evidence some of the blocks included in the story were even in existence before or during the Civil War. Thanks for sharing! Cassandra (at) TheNotSoDramaticLife (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI found the book, "Hidden in Plain View" on alibris.com - http://www.alibris.com/Hidden-in-Plain-View-A-Secret-Story-of-Quilts-and-the-Underground-Railroad-Jacqueline-L-Tobin/book/2891170?matches=122. Discredited or not, it should be a fascinating read.
ReplyDeleteI own a copy of the book and have read it, first becoming aware of it when Jacqueline Tobin, the author, appeared on Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts". It IS as Susan surmises, a fascinating read.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that Cassandra so bluntly discredits your post. You, nor your guild's speaker, did not present this fascinating possibility as fact, stating, "may have played a role". As far as the book being 'discredited' Tobin never set out to purport absolute truths; the author herself said it has been misinterpreted and some stories simply not in the book at all, like hanging quilts to indicate safe houses. Furthermore, this is one family's story, she says, not intended to be a code for thousands. We all have family stories passed on down, and to have one's own family stories dismissed perfunctorily in this way is pretty hurtful and disrespectful. The vast majority of slaves couldn't read or write, so it is entirely plausible that they DID have a code, a secret way of communicating routes, safe places to rest, and where to find sympathetic white people who would help them. Here is a very well-written article on this topic:
http://quilthistory.com/ugrrquilts.htm
I too wish there would be actual research done on this topic, as the authors state near the end of the article. Anything that acknowledges helping one's sister and brother humans deserves the spotlight IMHO.
You and I had numerous discussion about this, Cindy. I think the biggest thing to take from all this discussion is, "It cannot be determined for sure at this time." Ask an historian about anything controversial, and they will be hard pressed to say everything we know about an event is the whole truth. A good example is the painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware River. It happened, but just not exactly like the painting shows. On the other hand, most of us can say from memory, "Washington crossed the Delaware with his men." It has served as a reminder today, and back during its creation to inspire bravery. It is notable that when it was created in the 1850's that it was done with great attention to be accurate as possible.
ReplyDeletehttps://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/a-famous-painting-meets-its-more-factual-match/
History depends on perspective as much as anything, too. Two people who see the same event will tell it very differently. It's highly influenced by your view point and also emotion. Sometimes a story is told so many times it morphs into something else, and some stories are passed through generations of family, and seem wholly unbelievable, yet are true. My husband's grandfather saw Thomas Edison and Henry Ford together one time. I get the details mixed up as to where, but the essence is its still the truth.
I live in an area of Ohio where there are several old homes that it's said sheltered slaves along the Underground Railroad. Surprisingly, we aren't on the typical trail that they were said to have traveled. Yet I've been in one of them, and there are false walls in the upstairs and a tunnel leading out of the basement. Was it true or not? There is nothing written to back it up, and no one is alive any longer to dispute or confirm it. Is it remarkable that Harriet Beecher Stowe lived in the southern most area of this state?
I will say I agree that we should not create truth out of myth for the sake of saying it could be true, but when we also cannot say for sure it is not, I also hesitate. I think I'm going to have to side with Sandra when she says it is plausible. Plausible for sure. We know that Anna Strong hung her laundry out as a code during the Revolutionary War, so it was already a known way to pass messages. Just saying plausible folks.
http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2009/01/women-spies-of-revolution.html