Our hobby is Living History. Portraying a period of time as accurately as we can and doing it with integrity. We are making the education of the public our responsibility. We do it voluntarily; in fact we pay to do it! It is our duty to present the facts, not the stereotypes. Therefore we must do the research necessary to dig up those facts; and present to the public the most historically accurate image possible. We can truly honor those ancestors we represent by getting their story right.The public who attend our reenactments are intelligent people and many are Civil War buffs. They can spot an anachronism, such as a cooler, a can of soda, a wristwatch, or a sleeping bag, quite readily and are quick to comment. When the public walks through an authentic encampment and sees these kinds of modern intrusions, they doubt the validity of the camp as a whole. To have these intrusions spoil the impression is not fair to the visitor who has paid to enter our camp. Neither is it fair to the others in the encampment, who work very hard at maintaining an authentic 1860's environment. So when you prepare for an event, if an item is not a true representation of the period, don't pack it. Do your best to keep your impression period correct. If you do bring something modern, HIDE IT!
Before you spend tons of money on clothing and gear, go to a couple of events in a simple role. Test the waters as it were, by portraying a general role such as farm wife. Be a maid or servant to someone with an established role and learn by watching.
Get your basic garments together and don't try to do it all at once. Beginners can reenact effectively with just a dress, petticoat, and pair of boots. Add the rest as your impression calls for them, you can afford them or as you find them.
Great Links for Civilian Impressions:
- Fanny & Vera's Site for New Civilian Reenactors
- How to Get Started in Civilian Reenacting
- Stan & Ruth Bukowski's page
- School of the Civilian
- The Gentleman's Page
- The Costume Classroom
- Victorian Fashion
- Victorian Civilians site
- 2nd VA Civilian Page
- Civil War era hairstyles
- How to fold a Civil War era greatcoat
- How to Create Calling Cards
- Mens Hairstyles of the 1860s