I have something quite simple to pose in answer to you question: When I first started The Drinking Gourd Radio Show, Leigh Fellner was gracious enough to interview for the series I did on the quilt codes.

Through her thourough examination of the book "Hidden in Plain View" she caused me to ask myself one simple question.

Would a slave running away at night (the best time probably to effect an escape) be able to see a quilt hanging on a porch or out a window in the dark during a period of time when electric lights weren't being used? Even if they did manage to see the quilt would they venture in close enough to look at the markings on the quilt?

I personally do not believe in the theory of the quilt codes. It makes for fascinating reading but in my personal opinion just doesn't hold up to scrutiny and I'm not a scholar.

Renee