Remember the ladies!

[CWLady]

Being a fresh fish, I just read Paul Calloway's article on getting started as a campaigner and while it's humorous and very informative, I found one small problem: he only addresses the men. My question here is, what books (not just about clothing) ought I read that focus on women? I ask this list because I want only authentic sources. No sense in wasting money on an incorrect book. Also, has anyone read diaries from soldiers' wives? That's part of my persona, except the soldier is deceased. I figured I might incorporate my Irish heritage in here because my ancestors immigrated during this period. (although I don't think anyone faught.)
Thanks!
Rebecca

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Remember the ladies!

A good start for "attitude" is The Authentic Civilian Manifesto, by Susan Hughes. There's a "sticky" message on this section of the forum that includes the link.

Since women don't "campaign" the way soldiers do, Mr. Calloway's article focuses only on the intended audience. A search of past posts here will yeild some good books to read; haunt the biography section of your library, too. :) For the budget-wise, become good friends with your local reference librarian. She'll help you navigate the mysteries of Inter-Library Loan, the wonderful means through which you can gain access to a wide range of books you might otherwise have to buy--and then choose to buy only those volumes that will be of lasting value to you.

While his vendors and other suggestions are aimed at the men in military, the same set of suggestions work equally well for a woman.

Quite a few folks here have a very loose "impression": it changes dramatically depending on the scenario needs. This allows one to explore a wide range of activities and attitudes, and allows a lot of flexibility. If, for instance, one's primary impression is of a nurse, and the event scenario has no nurses, then it's not possible to participate without adapting! However, if a person develops a well-rounded knowledge of different sorts of people in the mid-19th century, they can refine their information and participate in just about any event, as they will be adaptable.

Losing a relative is quite common--so adding information on how a wife would recieve news of her soldier's death, what financial things she now has to consider, how her life changes, what challenges and emotions she might face, etc will be useful to just about any impression in some way.

For information on the lives of immigrants, haunt the Social History sections; read books that span about a century, and you'll find specific information, as well as info from the previous decades, so you can understand how the experience of an Irish immigrant in 1860 might differ from that of a person in 1840. Also, look for books on inner city life, education and child labor reform, political "mobs," labor unions, medicine, and religion...

You'll find you quickly become an omnivorous reader! I've picked up non-fiction books on topics about which I might not have much modern interest, because they looked to contain some information about our period. That's lead me to read studies of agricultural practices (tons of info on the social impact, actually!), on child-bed fever in Germany, on the archaeological discoveries in England, on mathematicians, on the funeral industry... well, okay, I did have interest in each of these areas... I'm a bit odd in that way.

The point being: don't limit yourself in your research. There are some fantastic little bonbons to be found through casual reading in every section of the stacks! You're not obligated to read every book you pick up from cover to cover--often you'll read just enough to give yourself some questions to go and answer through reading in other sources.

Everyone has their favorite book list--please do post them here!

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Remember the ladies!

I figured I might incorporate my Irish heritage in here because my ancestors immigrated during this period. (although I don't think anyone faught.)
Thanks!
Rebecca

That is something you may want to look into. A goodly portion of the Irish male immigrant population fought and for more than love of their new homeland.