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Underground Railroad
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New Pathways into Quilt History written by Kimberly Wulfert, www.antiquequiltdating.com

Barbara Brackman's Underground Railroad Quilt Club
An online E-club of monthly in-depth articles,
sources and references, patterns and discussion

History, facts, quotes, links, more history facts- the articles she writes each month, about an individual's experiences during the early 19th century through the Civil War, are meaty to say the least. They are not just about quilts, or fabric, not at all, but about the circumstances of daily life at that time from one person's perspective as evidenced through their diary excerpts and newspaper articles. You can't get more primary than that.

There is a quilt block pattern each month, in a PDF for downloading. They are star patterns thus far.

Historical photographs of the days before the War are in another section. Old photographs of black people or slaves are rare., but these primary source documents indicate experiences of their life as they depict it, not a professional rendering through some medium, or a painting. One that is especially amazing shows a huge area on the ground of white cotton, spread about, with slaves sitting on it. The caption tells that they are on a southern Plantation getting the cotton ready for the gin.

Readers can ask Barbara specific questions in The Forum section. One question can lead to her sharing all kinds of thoughts she has on the subject at hand. It's like having a personal conversation with her. One question was about whether Harriet Tubman was a quilt maker and if she quilted on the trail, as has been put forth by some. Barbara answered this and then went on to give links for a "marvelous pictorial quilt dedicated to Harriet Tubman, designed by architect Ben Irvin and made by a group of quilters in Marin County, California in 1951. It's now in the collection of the Robert W. Woodruff Library in the Atlanta University Center." She gave a link to the quilt featuring Frederick Douglass.  and for the one honoring Harriet Tubman. They are both viewable on Quilt Index, but if you didn't know that they were made, then you may not look there. Barbara has done allot of the groundwork for you. Details like this make being in the UGRR Club a value to Civil War era researchers and fans.

There is also a posting section where you can share what you know about the women and men abolitionists, the UGRR and the people and places involved with it.

Don't worry that you've missed anything either, as a member you can click into the archives of every month's article, pattern and links. I have seen all the months, and the preview they give you of the first month is a very good indicator of the quality you will get from the others. In fact, they remind me of her other book "Civil War Women." Barbara has so much to give and share, if you love this era then you will love this club.

Go here to see the first month www.ctpub.com

Review by Kimberly Wulfert

 

* The Myths of Quilts on the Underground Railroad


© 2005 - 2022 Kimberly Wulfert, PhD. Absolutely no copies, reprints, use of photos or text are permitted for commercial or online use. One personal copy for study purposes is permitted.

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