Current & Future Forums
May 2024 Forum
May 1 – Sharon Tindall – Underground Railroad Quilt Codes – In-Person
Prepare to hear a special and fascinating story of how the Underground Railroad likely used codes embedded in quilts to further its cause. NOVA’s own Black History Quilt Maker/Textile Artist Sharon Tindall (executive assistant to the Provost) received her professional training from Montclair State University in New Jersey. An advocate and educator of African American history, Tindall has studied the theory of quilt codes, the idea that slaves on Southern plantations sewed patterns into their quilts that other slaves could use as maps of the Underground Railroad. Although the existence of such quilts has been denied by many historians, Tindall and others think the code was real. And Tindall does more than think — she has created such quilts herself, particularly as expressed through quilt code. She has spent years researching quilt patterns used to guide the enslaved to freedom.
In 2013, Tindall was awarded a grant to investigate the use of quilt codes of the Underground Railroad that enabled her to travel to West Africa (Liberia) to study patterns and coded messages in fabric, and as well as the history of cotton. Her presentation “From Cotton to Quilts” discusses and translates the hidden coded messages within the quilts that the slaves could decipher as to whether they were a taste away from freedom, or of dangers still lurking within the shadows. Tindall was interviewed for “Underground Railroad Quilt Codes” for the Smithsonian’s Folklife Magazine, March 3, 2019. Sharon will have several of her quilts hung in the Forum room for us to view. This promises to be a fascinating Forum. Please join us!
Sharon Tindall is a small business owner, advocate and educator of African American history expressed through quilt codes. In her presentation “From Cotton to Quilts and the Underground Railroad Quilt Codes” she takes participants on a journey through African ancestry to African American culture by incorporating the history of cotton, the spinning of cotton into thread, of weaving threads into cloth, building an inspiring narrative about the revelation of quilt codes.
During her 30 years of sewing/ quilting experience, Ms. Tindall pursued professional textile training from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She became a sewing/ quilting instructor for G-Street Fabrics, one of the largest and oldest fabric stores in Maryland. She was also a quilt code and sewing instructor for Northern Virginia Community College and Morgan State University.
Ms. Tindall shares her passion for quilt codes with participants of all ages through presentations at schools, universities, museums, churches, and private venues in hopes of inspiring current and future generations to learn from and carry on the rich culture and legacy of African American art and traditions.
Social Activities: 9:30 a.m.
Announcements: 9:50 a.m.
Presentation: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Little River United Church of Christ – 8410 Little River Trnpk, Annandale, VA 22003
Guests: Guests are welcome. No registration is required.
Coordinator: Janice Viola admin@llinova.org
Future Forums
- June 2024 will likely be in-person Forum with the topic TBD.