Streator Library to House Secret Messages from the Underground Railroad Quilt Program – Shaw Local

The Streatorland Historical Society and the Streator Public Library are sponsoring Connie Martin to speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 on the secret messages contained in the Underground Railroad quilts.

The presentation will take place in the library’s Soderstrom Room, 130 S. Park St.

Martin is the sixth generation of slaves. She brings examples of quilts and explains the meaning of each message in the quilt.

Martin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois State University and a Master of Arts from Aurora University. She is a retired language teacher, a star fitness instructor for 33 years, and the mother of three sons. She recounts the stories passed down to her great-grandmother Lizzie of how her family survived the antebellum period through trials and tribulations, and how they used quilts containing hidden codes and secret messages to help abolitionists – white and black – guide slaves to freedom. by the Underground Railroad to Canada. During this presentation, Martin shares several different quilt designs in replica quilts.

Visit the library’s website, streatorpubliclibrary.org, to reserve a place to hear Martin as space is limited. There is no cost to attend.

There will also be a quilt exhibit June 19-25 at the library. It will feature Underground Railroad quilts made by local quilters. In this display, special messages found in quilt blocks will be identified and explained. Guides will be available in the library’s Soderstrom Room. They will be present from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday June 19 and Thursday June 20; from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 21; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday June 22; 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday June 24 and Tuesday June 25.