Birds in the Air

Birds in the Air symbolized flight or migration. During the 1840s–1850s quilters could subtly indicate a northward route through fabric choice and block placement.

Jacob’s Ladder

The Jacob’s Ladder symbol, with its alternating dark and light colors, was used to indicate a direction.

Sail Boat

Black sailors and shipowners aided escapes by hiding fugitives on ships and spreading information, linking enslaved Southerners with free Northern communities.

GSRC’s Purpose

The goal of GSRC is to strengthen identity and community by reclaiming family legacies. Genealogy is not just about names and dates; it is about honoring resilience, restoring connections, and celebrating the traditions that endure across generations. For African American culture, this practice affirms the importance of family as the heart of heritage and ensures that the struggles, triumphs, and contributions of ancestors will never be forgotten.

Log Cabin

The Log Cabin quilt guided runaways to a safe house, with the red center symbolizing the cabin’s hearth or fire.

Bow Tie

The Bow Tie signaled runaways to dress formally, as free Blacks and abolitionists would meet them with suitable clothing.

Crossroad

After crossing the Appalachians, fugitives reached the “crossroads” in Cleveland, Ohio, the main hub to overland trails and Lake Erie routes leading to Canada and freedom.

Shoo Fly

The Shoo Fly symbol represents someone who secretly assisted and sheltered those escaping.

Wagon Wheel

Wagons with hidden compartments helped to transport runaways. The wagon wheel symbol signaled them to pack provisions and symbolized a “chariot” home, echoed in spirituals like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

Bear Paw

Runaways were guided by bear footprints, which marked the safest path and led them to food and water, acting like a natural road map through the mountains

Monkey Wrench

The Monkey Wrench symbol was displayed as a signal for the enslaved who planned to escape, to collect tools they would need on their journey north.

North Star

The North Star served as a guiding light for the enslaved seeking freedom in Canada and was crucial for navigation, especially for boatmen transporting them from Cleveland to Detroit.

Drunkard’s Path

Slaves traveled in a staggered pattern and sometimes doubled back to confuse pursuing slave hunters.

Carpenter’s Wheel

To the enslaved, Jesus was the master carpenter. In the fields, they sang spirituals about a chariot home, which plantation owners misinterpreted. Runaways understood these songs as instructions to follow the Carpenter’s Wheel west to northwest.

Basket

The Basket symbol signaled the need for provisions. Abolitionists and safe houses supplied food, tools, flint, and compasses to aid runaways on their journey.

Big John Fruit Stand

First Day

River Joe

Laundry day

Let Me Tell You Something