Cartersville in Bartow County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

1. Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch Marker

Inscription.

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch. . , Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch, by sculptor, Przemyslaw Kordys, was commissioned by the African American Quilt Documentation Project of Bartow County and donated to the City of Cartersville in an unveiling ceremony on May 10, 2018. The patterns in the quilt motif are believed to have been used by enslaved Africans in their escape to freedom. Legend holds the quilt patterns were given code meanings to aid slaves in their flight to freedom via the "Underground Railroad." The Underground Railroad was a secret passage used three decades prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865). This monument pays homage to the indomitable human spirit and courage of those who risked their lives to gain freedom. They were the pioneers of emancipation., Przemyslaw Kordys or PK to his friends, was born in Poland and received his degree from the Academy of Fine Art in Gdansk, Poland. He moved to America in 2002 and became a citizen in 2011. His sculptures are created in a variety of materials metal, composites and ceramics and are featured in the Children's Museum of Atlanta, LDEA Gallery and Missouri State University., North Star , Prepare to journey north to freedom., Sailboat , Prepare to cross a body of water, Monkey Wrench , Gather the necessary tools in order to escape., Crossroads , Referred specifically to Cleveland, Ohio, code named "Station Hope". This area was one of the most active sites in the Underground Railroad movement., Log Cabin , Indicated a safe house, or sometimes would have been drawn on the ground to indicate it was time to seek shelter., Bear's Paw , Follow the path of the bear to find food and water., Basket , Gather food and provisions. Safe houses used this pattern to show food was provided there., Wagon Wheel , Pack provisions for trading by wagon. Some reconds indicate that hidden compartments in wagons were one of the primary means of reporting runways., Flying Geese , Follow the path of the flying geese to the north. Many slaves escaped during the spring when geese were migrating north.

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch, by sculptor, Przemyslaw Kordys, was commissioned by the African American Quilt Documentation Project of Bartow County and donated to the City of Cartersville in an unveiling ceremony on May 10, 2018. The patterns in the quilt motif are believed to have been used by enslaved Africans in their escape to freedom. Legend holds the quilt patterns were given code meanings to aid slaves in their flight to freedom via the "Underground Railroad." The Underground Railroad was a secret passage used three decades prior to the American Civil War (1861-1865). This monument pays homage to the indomitable human spirit and courage of those who risked their lives to gain freedom. They were the pioneers of emancipation.

Przemyslaw Kordys or PK to his friends, was born in Poland and received his degree from the Academy of Fine Art in Gdansk, Poland. He moved to America in 2002 and became a citizen in 2011. His sculptures are created in a variety of materials metal, composites and ceramics and are featured in the Children's Museum of Atlanta, LDEA Gallery and Missouri State University.

North Star
Prepare to journey north to freedom.

Sailboat
Prepare to cross a body of water

Monkey Wrench
Gather the necessary

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tools in order to escape.

Crossroads
Referred specifically to Cleveland, Ohio, code named "Station Hope". This area was one of the most active sites in the Underground Railroad movement.

Log Cabin
Indicated a safe house, or sometimes would have been drawn on the ground to indicate it was time to seek shelter.

Bear's Paw
Follow the path of the bear to find food and water.

Basket
Gather food and provisions. Safe houses used this pattern to show food was provided there.

Wagon Wheel
Pack provisions for trading by wagon. Some reconds indicate that hidden compartments in wagons were one of the primary means of reporting runways.

Flying Geese
Follow the path of the flying geese to the north. Many slaves escaped during the spring when geese were migrating north.

Erected 2018 by African American Quilt Documentation Project of Bartow County, Georgia Council for the Arts, Cultural Arts Alliance of Cartersville - Bartow County, Cartersville - Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Graham Commercial Contractors, Cartersville Downtown Development Authority, Steel Materials.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch Marker & sculpture in front of Cartersville City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

2. Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch Marker & sculpture in front of Cartersville City Hall

• African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is May 10, 2018.

Location. 34° 9.962′ N, 84° 47.781′ W. Marker is in Cartersville, Georgia, in Bartow County. It is at the intersection of North Public Square and West Cherokee Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Public Square. The marker and art display are in front of Cartersville City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 N Public Square, Cartersville GA 30120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Been Working on the Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bench By The Road (within shouting distance of this marker); God Bless America (within shouting distance of this marker); The Heart of the Chase (within shouting distance of this marker); Amos T. Akerman (within shouting distance of this marker); Warren Akin, Sr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Francis S. Bartow (within shouting distance of this marker); Chief Justice Robert Benham (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cartersville.

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

3. Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch sculpture

Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch display tag image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

4. Pathways to Freedom: A Story in Every Stitch display tag

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.