Maria Mayer is an African American quilter, educator, and a member of the Blue Triangle Quilt Guild of Houston, Texas. She has created an intriguing exhibit of mini quilts thought to be from quilt patterns made by African American slaves during slavery in America. This exhibit highlights the African meanings of the quilt blocks and, certain men, women, and places on the Underground Railroad.

Ms. Mayer learned how to make patchwork quilts by hand from her husband’s grandmother in the early 1970s and has been an avid machine quilter since 1995. She is also an educator with over 44 years of experience, and a student of the Underground Railroad.

Some believe that the quilt patterns used by several slaves before and during the American Civil War had codes and secret messages that guided an unknown number of slaves to freedom in the northern states and Canada via the Underground Railroad. These patterns gave instructions and directions on how to find food, water, safe hiding places, transportation, and clothes. However, because of the lack of written records validating the stories, others find it hard to believe in the codes’ authenticity. The lives and freedom of those involved made secrecy of the utmost importance.

After reading “Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad” by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D.Ms. Mayer began to study the Underground Railroad and the quilt patterns. Ms. Ozella McDaniel Williams is the person who told Ms. Tobin of the secret codes. During her research Ms. Mayer learned about Ms. Teresa R. Kemp, the grandnieceof Ozella McDaniel Williams. Ms. Kemp has authored a book, “Keeper of the Fire”, which tells of her ancestors’ involvement in the creation of the quilts, the origins of the patterns, and how slaves received the codes and their meanings on various plantations. Ms. Mayer also learned that the quilt codes have been copyrighted.