Volunteer Millers will host Connie Martin as guest presenter of “Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Under Ground Railroad “. Connie is an historian and speaker all over Illinois. Currently, she resides in Aurora, IL but finds joy in telling the secret codes and hidden messages in the family quilts her ancestors shared and passed down through generations to her and her mother. Six generations have shared the stories of the safe routes used by the underground and the abolitionists assisting freedom seekers from Kentucky through Illinois to freedom in Canada.
Connie’s mother, Dr Clarice Boswell, made beautiful quilt replicas to show the codes, and wrote a book, Lizzie’s Story: A Slave Family’s Journey to Freedom. Connie will display some quilts and share the family story on Monday, June 22 at 6:00pm in the Windmill Cultural Center Fulton, IL. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation. The facility is located at 111- 10th Avenue and is accessible to those with disabilities. Contact 563-249-6115 if you have questions or concerns.
