[TheForge] OT - dumb? idea -- historical reenactors' "catalog"

[wmullett at bright.net]

http://jas-townsend.com/ has revolutionary clothing, camping and cooking.


---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 07:51:15 -0400
>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net (on behalf of "Bruce ." <freemab222 at gmail.com>)
>Subject: [TheForge] OT - dumb? idea -- historical reenactors' "catalog"  
>To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>
>I recently stopped by a Revolutionary War encampment at one of Washington's
>many HQ's in NJ, and what was obvious was how few were the reenactors and
>how old they were (like, older than me, mostly!).  This is disappointing
>because it is obvious to me how important such reenactment can be.  The
>"few" I can't criticize, because I no longer do any sort of such reenacting
>myself, so can't point fingers.  The "old" can only be addressed by getting
>younger folk involved.  But how?
>
>(Digression -- I suspect many of the folks who might otherwise embrace
>reenacting have been seduced -- perhaps literally -- into the SCA scene.
>Dressing up and playing faux-medieval roles is fun for some, but I have
>enough problems maintaining ONE persona, much less two or three.  Which, by
>the way, is one reason I prefer "ghost interpretation" to "first-person
>interpretation."  I suspect that with some encouragement, even die-hard
>SCA-ites might embrace historical reenactment.)
>
>It has since dawned on me that younger people may simply need to be
>encouraged.  It can be difficult to get it all together to do reenacting.
>You can't exactly waltz into Target and buy the clothing and gear.  And
>many, if not all, these reenacting groups are REAL fussy about historical
>accuracy.  That's part of what's so important -- "Washington's troops"
>won't be seen marching around in jeans and T-shirts, but in historically
>accurate accoutrements, often even rejecting cotton clothing in favor of
>linen!
>
>So here's my thought (unresearched to see whether it's been thought of
>already):  Maybe a catalog could be assembled (think "Whole Earth Catalog"
>for those of you old enough to know what I'm talking about) that would
>provide information where to get the clothing and equipment needed for
>different era reenactment -- and maybe even listing what is needed in
>clothing and gear for various roles.  I realize that no single list would
>suffice for every reenactor in every era (Rendezvous, Revolutionary War,
>Civil War), but a shirt is a shirt and probably didn't change all that much
>across that time period.
>
>Some of the clothing can be purchased (I understand) from Amish suppliers.
>Like I said -- I haven't researched this idea, so maybe there exist
>multiple sources already which could simply be assembled into a master
>list.  I don't propose printing this "catalog" of course, but simply
>creating a website.  Maybe it could be set up as a Wiki, so additional
>contributions could be made at any time.  (Of course, significant numbers
>of hand-forged items, knives, etc., would be needed, giving an opportunity
>for some blacksmiths and knifemakers to show their wares.)
>
>Thoughts?  Comments? Volunteers?
>
>-- 
>Bruce
>NJ
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