|
The essence of any living historian's quest is the
"Who was I?" question we must all answer. The results give us focus and direction in
our endeavor to recreate the history of whatever time period we wish to portray. But to
be a living historian is more than just dressing in the clothing of an era, more than
assembling items, both original and reproduction. It is truly a quest to become an
individual of the past, to understand the time and what it meant to those for whom
it was daily life lived to its fullest. For those men and women it was not history
they lived but the present with all the attendant joys and sorrows we all feel today
as we go to work, interact with our familys, and struggle to make the future better
for our children. So it is. So has it always been.
We come to our "hobby," if one can call that which we lavish with our time, attention, scholarship, and money a hobby, through a natural attraction to history. We have transcended the boring classes of our school days and come to realize history is simply the record of the lives and actions of those who have come before us, real people doing real things. Some will affect the future in ways they cannot imagine, others will pass into eternity leaving only a loving memory in those whose lives they have touched. Yet the legacy each leaves behind becomes the thread out of which the fabric of history is woven. |
I came to this conclusion while reading the works of Allan W. Eckert. In his Narratives of America series (see our first Ask the Staff for a short review of the Eckert series.---Ed.) he vividly recreates in early America from the early eighteenth century through the first quarter of the ninteenth. He uses an approach to the writing of history that is so unique one often finds his books in the fiction section. Using all available sources he recreates dialog between characters that is as close to what must have happened as one can make it. Sure, no one really knows what Simon Kenton said to Daniel Boone when the two met at Boone's last home in Missouri in the early 1800's but Eckert's recreation is as accurate as a thorough knowledge of the historical record allows.
But this isn't a review of Eckert's books. I mention them only because they were able to bring the individuals of early America into focus for me. The books were instrumental in my decision to develop a colonial personality for the character I would portray. But they also let me see what an interesting time the America before 1840 was. From the first Europeans to settle in isolated pockets along the Atlantic coast until steam-powered vehicles plied the rivers and rails of an expanding and independent country America was a dynamic and energetic land, unlike any other in the history of the world. It would be from these pioneers, social, political and geographic, that I would fashion a persona that would try to help others understand what it was like for them.
What we would like to do in this segment of our magazine of the Web is to offer some suggestions and ideas that may help you develop your character, regardless of whether your impression is of a civilian during the French and Indian War, a middle ground longhunter in the days before the Revolutionary War or a member of a local militia during the struggle for independence. We will try to address the portrayal of men and women as well as children, if there are young ones in your family who want to join in the fun and do a little learning while they play. We will also take a look at portrayals of military men, regular and militia, loyalist and patriot, for those of you who want to recreate the martial life of the times.
To that end we'll take a close look at good research techniques, books and other sources we believe might be helpful, and at the wide range of products you can either make or buy to add to your character's cache of goods. We'll also try and coordinate our other features to help you make your portrayal as accurate, and as fun, as it can be.
Next time around we'll take a look at a basic outfit, both clothes and acoutrements, for your persona. In the mean time, keep reading and check and see if there's a reenactment happening close by. Your best resources are going to be those who are already doing it!
See y'all next time!---The Staff at Armory Hill