Deb,

It is indeed a disputed topic, but not generally because of the evidence,
but rather because of the lack of evidence for it. One of my aunts is a
quilt nut/historian(not intended as disparaging of quilt lovers), and we
have discussed this a couple times. The tradition is entirely oral, and
apocryphal. None of the supposed quilts survive, and written accounts of
the events do not exist.

Most of the information I have seen is highly conjectural and the notion is
generally considered an urban myth. However, the concept has been part of
certain public consciousnesses for long enough that it will be very
difficult to squash.

Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850


                                                                           
             Deb Fuller                                                    
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Hi all,

I just found a blurb on codes in slave quilts on the NSA museum site
here: http://www.nsa.gov/publications/publi00011.cfm

I thought we had a discussion on here a while back about how most of
that info was disproven but I can't find it in the archives.

Does anyone have info about if codes were used in slave quilts or not?

Just curious!

Thanks!

deb

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