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218th out of 565 books
—
840 voters
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad
In Hidden in Plain View, historian Jacqueline Tobin and scholar Raymond Dobard offer the first proof that certain quilt patterns, including a prominent one called the Charleston Code, were, in fact, essential tools for escape along the Underground Railroad.
In 1993, historian Jacqueline Tobin met African American quilter Ozella Williams amid piles of beautiful handmade quil...more
In 1993, historian Jacqueline Tobin met African American quilter Ozella Williams amid piles of beautiful handmade quil...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
January 18th 2000
by Anchor
(first published 1999)
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Ok, I am redoing this review. There were things that disappointed me in this book. It seemed like there was a lot of conjecture. As I told a friend who asked me about the book it also reminded me of "Mutant Message Down Under" where some foreign white lady is given all the mystical secrets of aborigine society. I just wanted to ask, "What makes you so special that they pass this information to you but not their own children?" Because I felt not entirely able to back up my criticisms I didn't wan...more
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When Jacqueline Tobin visited Charleston, SC, she met Ozella McDaniels Williams at the market. Ozella was selling quilts and began to talk to her about the use of quits and their secret language during slavery. Jacqueline was not paying much attention, but when she got home and began to think about it, she called her using the business card from the quilt she bought. Ozella told her she would get the story when Jacqueline was ready to hear it. So Jackqueline began doing research on slave quilts....more
Aug 21, 2011
Mary
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Mary by:
library - "not new but worth a view"
People have probably heard that quilts were part of helping slaves on the Underground Railroad. This book tries to substantiate that. It's hard to do, because the actual quilts that were used are probably fallen apart and thrown out by now, and because by nature the Underground Railroad was made up of secrets, so there's very few ways to substantiate secrets. But one of the authors speaks to a woman in Charleston, S. Carolina who has kept the verbal history, passed down from her mother and grand...more
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I was really disappointed with this book. I was expecting a scholarly work about a part of history that I'm interested in. I thought that a book written by TWO people with PhD behind their names would at least be organized and on point.
I was wrong.
The authors spend more time second-guessing themselves and possiting questions they are unable to answer instead of focusing on the information they are confident in sharing with their audience.
In the first section, they spend too much time downplaying...more
I was wrong.
The authors spend more time second-guessing themselves and possiting questions they are unable to answer instead of focusing on the information they are confident in sharing with their audience.
In the first section, they spend too much time downplaying...more
I'm currently reading this for something I'm working on. However, it's amazing how so many people can actually believe this existed. It's also amazing how many read this book, and then still believe this can happen. With words of wisdom such as, "follow the bear tracks they will lead you to safety", or "head north" the author's seem to assume that slaves were completely lacking in any knowledge whatsoever. The fact that one of them, is in fact an African-American Fine Arts Professor at Howard Un...more
Picked this up in Yorktown, VA at the National Park Gift Shop and was excited about a book about the history of crafts in the Civil War. Several of my favorite subjects!
Unfortunately the book seemed to be based almost entirely on speculation by the author. I think it's entirely possible that quilts were used to communicate messages, but the 'code' described by Tobin seems completely imagined. Reading a few comments and other reviews seem to imply that people in the quilting community also find t...more
Unfortunately the book seemed to be based almost entirely on speculation by the author. I think it's entirely possible that quilts were used to communicate messages, but the 'code' described by Tobin seems completely imagined. Reading a few comments and other reviews seem to imply that people in the quilting community also find t...more
I am an avid quilter and a Civil War re-enactor. I also am very interested in the history of quilts and quilting. I read this book with some background knowledge of its controversy, and I must say, it does stir up a lot of questions. I like the idea of a quilt code, but I am not convinced that the theory discussed here holds water. The dates of the quilt patterns and the interpretation of their symbols (and linking them to African symbols and Masonic symbols) do not come together in my mind. I u...more
In my work as a writer at the Missouri History Museum, I have to look at a lot of books (is this a cool job or what??). But merely seeking references and specific pieces of information, I seldom read one all the way through. I made an exception for and was pleased that I did.
Anyway, this short story of the writer's education into the deeper meaning and hidden history of African American quilting and other codes is fascinating. The writers leave many open questions, understandably since the mess...more
Anyway, this short story of the writer's education into the deeper meaning and hidden history of African American quilting and other codes is fascinating. The writers leave many open questions, understandably since the mess...more
I was a little bit disappointed in this book. I was expecting a few more hard facts to tie things together. Although the authors had a nice story going, they tended to make some pretty large leaps with their theories... leaps that I just couldn't stop questioning. Although some of the leaps might be plausible, there are a number of other explanations that I could come up with while I was reading. The lack of absolute proof made it difficult for me to read without scoffing.
Overall, I thought the...more
Overall, I thought the...more
Picked this up at the Baltimore Book Thing. I'm about a third of the way through, and thus far am frustrated with the way the authors seem to tease the reader with drip of information, but have yet to follow through with a well-laid out straightforward discussion.
I've also found that there's a lot of question regarding the accuracy of this book; the number of factual errors made by the authors are dismaying. See:
A critique of the book by Giles R. Wright, director of the Afro-American History Pro...more
I've also found that there's a lot of question regarding the accuracy of this book; the number of factual errors made by the authors are dismaying. See:
A critique of the book by Giles R. Wright, director of the Afro-American History Pro...more
Mar 08, 2010
Lorie
added it
Unfortunately, books like this are written. I see now how myths and legends are passed down as truth, due to some tall tale being produced as fact. This book is fiction. Numerous historians, in many areas have debunked this book as a nice story, but nothing more. What really ignites my flame is that it is being taught in some schools as fact. If you are interested in what real scholars have to say about this there is more here..
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/an-americ...
It's unfortunate that an ama...more
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/an-americ...
It's unfortunate that an ama...more
1 like · like · see review
This book is informative,interesting all the way through, and a smooth read. Learn about the secrets stitched and knotted into these quilts, and the traditions that inspired this method of communication or the West African textiles that preceded them - this is an important book about an overlooked subject in American history, as well as textile arts.
Ms. Tobin provides solid 3rd party documentation, references and citations to support her efforts, valuable for any of us interested in studying th...more
Ms. Tobin provides solid 3rd party documentation, references and citations to support her efforts, valuable for any of us interested in studying th...more
This book is very compelling on several levels: it gives a detailed history of the way quilts were used by escaping slaves in the Underground Railway; it provides a long, hard look at the way minorities were, and possibly are, treated in the South. Even the perennial favorite, Drunkard's Path, had its coded use for those who were trying to get to freedom in the North. I have had it in mind to make a quilt using the sampler blocks from the pre-Civil War days. As of this weekend, I have the blocks...more
I am reading this as I reread Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek books which take place during the Underground Railroad. In chronological order: "The Sugar Camp Quilt", "The Runaway Quilt", and "The Lost Quilter".
So far, Tobin's book has been very informative about the quilt patterns used, and how similar piecing patterns are to the Africans' use of symbolism in their textiles and crafts.
UPDATE: November 5, 2011
I did not read this all the way through. It's good information, but doesn't explain the...more
So far, Tobin's book has been very informative about the quilt patterns used, and how similar piecing patterns are to the Africans' use of symbolism in their textiles and crafts.
UPDATE: November 5, 2011
I did not read this all the way through. It's good information, but doesn't explain the...more
My rating was not so much based on easy reading or enjoyment. What earned this book a 4-star rating from me is the information about possible meanings of codes used in African made quilts for the underground railroad for slaves escaping to Canada.
Also interesting to find is that the negro spirituals were also developed to communicate information to one another.
There is also some theory on what the saying, "By way of Sandusky" might mean. Does it mean someone or something took the long route....more
Also interesting to find is that the negro spirituals were also developed to communicate information to one another.
There is also some theory on what the saying, "By way of Sandusky" might mean. Does it mean someone or something took the long route....more
This is a good beginner's book for the meaning of quilts and codes used in the Underground Railroad.
I expected more about the meaning of quilt symbols and there was some repetition. The book includes pictures of the quilts described and a glossary of designs.
It was more informative on the codes of the Underground Railroad and how spirituals were used to guide slaves from the south through Ohio to Canada.
This book made me want to read more and learn more about quilt codes and Underground Rail...more
I expected more about the meaning of quilt symbols and there was some repetition. The book includes pictures of the quilts described and a glossary of designs.
It was more informative on the codes of the Underground Railroad and how spirituals were used to guide slaves from the south through Ohio to Canada.
This book made me want to read more and learn more about quilt codes and Underground Rail...more
It was interesting and informative but not set out as I expected. It was almost like a series of essays each telling a small part of the larger story. I was expecting more I think.
I would've liked it to have been linked to the testamonials of actual escaped slaves who used the quilt code in order to have been more convinced. At the moment I am left with the hope that the code of patterns to help an illerate people escape slavery was used more widely than just the example given.
I would've liked it to have been linked to the testamonials of actual escaped slaves who used the quilt code in order to have been more convinced. At the moment I am left with the hope that the code of patterns to help an illerate people escape slavery was used more widely than just the example given.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't very long and there wasn't a whole lot of information but what was there was really interesting. A chance meeting with a woman at a market lead this author on a 5 year mission to find out about how quilts were used to aid those in the underground railroad. What I really liked was the information on the secret societies in Africa and how they translate in the United States. It is definatly worth checking out.
After reading Song Yet Sung, in which quilts played an important part in the slaves' communication about the Underground Railroad, I had to read this book, which James McBride praised for the information it provided him about the use of quilts. The authors compare the mnemonic elements of some history-telling quilts to the memory board, which I once saw displayed in a museum of African art here. Next I must read about Harriet Tubman,
Just happened to pick this up while at Sharpsburg Battleground (Antietum)it was fascinating and, I think, well researched. Tied together not only the use of quilts by the Underground Railroad, but African use of textiles and how that is thought to have played a role and the use of music by the slaves and those working to help them escape. A good read for history lovers as well a quilters.
While I didn't think the scholarship was very rigorous the authors made it clear that much of it was necessarily based on creative speculation because of lack of hard facts. Learning about the adaptations and heroism of escaping slaves and their liberators, along with the roles played by quilters and their quilts, is inspiring.
On the one hand, this is a piece of history about which there hasn't been much coverage, so it was an easy introduction into the subject of signal/code quilts.
On the other hand, the editing was lousy, and it was VERY cursory. I'd like to read more.
On the other hand, the editing was lousy, and it was VERY cursory. I'd like to read more.
This book triggered a desire to learn more about how slaves have used art, and music to share very specific information. It has also made me wonder if there are similar stories in other underground movements for example, the European underground during the second World War. I am now looking for additional readings on these topics.
The information in this book is facinating. Because it has stimulated a new interest, I rate it highly. However, it is not particulary well written; it seems to be writ...more
The information in this book is facinating. Because it has stimulated a new interest, I rate it highly. However, it is not particulary well written; it seems to be writ...more
Unsubstantiated, fluffy, feel-good "history" - one family's story - it infuriates me that this book has so tarnished the true and amazing history of the Underground Railroad.
I enjoyed learning about the history and story of the quilts in relation to the Underground Railroad - it was facinating. This probly "read" more like a textbook though.
Great for those who quilt or interested in quilts, not to mention their roles as "signposts" on the Underground Railroad. This book was credited in Song Yet Sung. Fascinating.
I was disappointed in this book. A lot what she presented seemed like a stretch to me. I want to believe that quilts played a part in the Underground Railroad, and I do believe they may have, but not to the extent that this author proposes.
May 12, 2010
Gail Cavanaugh
is currently reading it
This is an amazing story of how slaves communicated with Harriet Tubman through quilting to win their freedom while on the Undeground Railroad.
I found it facinating how the Underground Railroad was able to help direct runaway slaves through language hidden in quilts!
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