The Federal Frock Workshop that Chris Daley is offering has stirred my curiousity.
My fiancee returned from the Citizen's Conference in Harrisburg Sunday evening and regailed me with stories and photos of all she saw there. She has been attending five years now, and she has always raved about it, but this time she brought back all the printed notes and samples from the classes (purchased at extra cost but well worth the price) and about 200 photos of the attendees, all in period Civil War civilian dress, and all the displays of clothing, bonnets, hats, shoes, accessories. The conference speakers presented topics varying from clothing to railroad travel to botany collecting -- and all quite fascinating and worthy of knowing, and which all CW military reenactors, in my opinion, SHOULD know, as we portray men who were once civilians before they became soldiers.
And, on Friday, there were intense classes on clothing construction given by Jim Ruley, who is an incredibly good and prolific tailor. Check out his work under the topic "Men's Clothing" on this website: http://thesewingacademy.org/
To get to my point -- It would seem to me that such a conference, designed for the Civil War SOLDIER, not the civilian, would be an incredible draw. Imagine -- in one place, for three or four days on a weekend, there would be workshops on uniform construction, mess preparation, weapons maintenance, camp gear, uniform authenticity, CW history, civilain history, popular games and passtimes, and, no doubt, immense collections on display. I wont go into great detail about the variety of topics -- imagine them for yourselves -- but just imagine getting people of the likes of Chris Daley, Dan Waumbauch, Ed Bearrs, Nicky Hughes, and other repected authorities in their disciplines, many of whom visit this board frequently, all together for the weekend, with class after class after class of everythng you wanted to know, plus authentic sutlers galore (would you allow any other kind?) and the chance for comraderie . . . well, I'd go, needless to say.
The cost of conferences that I have seen advertised in the Citizen's Companion ranges from $125 - $150 or so, exclusive of hotels and SOME meals (many are provided). Not unresonable for what you take away, I'd say.
Has anyone ever seen such an event? And would we be willing to organize one?
Opinions appreciated.
My fiancee returned from the Citizen's Conference in Harrisburg Sunday evening and regailed me with stories and photos of all she saw there. She has been attending five years now, and she has always raved about it, but this time she brought back all the printed notes and samples from the classes (purchased at extra cost but well worth the price) and about 200 photos of the attendees, all in period Civil War civilian dress, and all the displays of clothing, bonnets, hats, shoes, accessories. The conference speakers presented topics varying from clothing to railroad travel to botany collecting -- and all quite fascinating and worthy of knowing, and which all CW military reenactors, in my opinion, SHOULD know, as we portray men who were once civilians before they became soldiers.
And, on Friday, there were intense classes on clothing construction given by Jim Ruley, who is an incredibly good and prolific tailor. Check out his work under the topic "Men's Clothing" on this website: http://thesewingacademy.org/
To get to my point -- It would seem to me that such a conference, designed for the Civil War SOLDIER, not the civilian, would be an incredible draw. Imagine -- in one place, for three or four days on a weekend, there would be workshops on uniform construction, mess preparation, weapons maintenance, camp gear, uniform authenticity, CW history, civilain history, popular games and passtimes, and, no doubt, immense collections on display. I wont go into great detail about the variety of topics -- imagine them for yourselves -- but just imagine getting people of the likes of Chris Daley, Dan Waumbauch, Ed Bearrs, Nicky Hughes, and other repected authorities in their disciplines, many of whom visit this board frequently, all together for the weekend, with class after class after class of everythng you wanted to know, plus authentic sutlers galore (would you allow any other kind?) and the chance for comraderie . . . well, I'd go, needless to say.
The cost of conferences that I have seen advertised in the Citizen's Companion ranges from $125 - $150 or so, exclusive of hotels and SOME meals (many are provided). Not unresonable for what you take away, I'd say.
Has anyone ever seen such an event? And would we be willing to organize one?
Opinions appreciated.
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