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along the Underground Railroad. According to Ms. Williams, the story passed down through generations as an oral history and she reluctantly relayed the information to Ms. Tubin. The book increasingly gained popularity and Oprah Winfrey featured Mr. Dobard on her show along with the book.

Hidden in Plain View' received much controversy and criticism by scholars of slavery, the Underground Railroad and quilting. The sources listed in the book beg for skepticism and the authors had no evidence of such quilts. As with other books detailing the Freedom Quilt, all pictures of said quilts date to a much later time than pre-Civil War era. In addition to lack of sources, vendors familiar with Ms. Williams state the stories were an entertaining marketing strategy to sell her quilts. She passed away prior to publication, therefore was unavailable for scrutiny of her story, though her family continues to defend the tradition.

Barbara Brackman, quilter and historian, finds no firsthand accounts of quilts used in slavery escape, aside from obvious function of providing warmth. She states the patterns all date to post-war eras and commemoration was the purpose of giving such names to the patterns.

The use of quilts for direction is not feasible because quilting is time consuming and expensive. Mostly traveling at night, people were unable to see the quilt patterns. Searching by light would bring attention to their whereabouts.

Though quilts may not have provided direction along the Underground Railroad, messages in opposition to slavery adorned the quilts. Women of the North, both black women who escaped slavery and white women, designed quilts with anti-slavery slogans. In the 1830s, fairs displayed their quilts of opposition, with messages such as this:
"I'd sooner spend my days within
Some dark and dismal cave
Than to be guilty of the sin
Of holding one poor slave"

People appreciate the quilt patterns for their historical association though they are inaccurate. The named patterns should continue to provide recognition for the people who fought their way out of slavery. In social studies curriculum, the use of accurate information and truth of the hardships is valued and welcomed while the quilt patterns belong in Home Economics. Beautifully told, the stories will remain cherished folklore, but children require the truth of painful histories in their academic environments.

For more information, visit:
www.culver.org/news/quil ts.asp
www.ugrrquilt.hartcottag equilts.com
www.eduqueensu.ca
ww w.womenfolk.com/quilting_histo ry/abolitionist.htm
www.antique quiltdating.com/ugrr.html

Learn more about this author, Katrina Murphy.
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