Living History Conference

Living History Conference


1. Mr. Lincoln's Navy - The USN in the Civil War - Ed Bolla
This presentation would examine the rapid expansion of the USN during the conflict with emphasis on ships built or acquired and the problems of manning this rapidly expanding force.

2. Personal Stories Workshop: - Linda Bolla
It's the individual people and their stories that engage and inspire us as historical interpreters. This session will help you develop the full person behind the story, as well as identify interpretive themes. Whether you want to explore first-person presentation or demonstration yourself, or add color to historic sites/museums through both live and static displays focusing on people, this workshop will help you identify "good stories", develop the full character behind the story, and create opportunities to present the personal side of history.

3. Knit One, Purl Two ... Darling, My Heart's with You - Linda Bolla
A survey of civilian efforts on the homefront to support those fighting in the frontlines, from Rev War through the present. Annecdotes and patterns from each period, as well as source information for proper tools, should anyone wish to create an interpretative program.

4. Shall we Dance? - Steven Fuller
Stephen and Karen Millyard will guide your learning of the ballroom steps of the 19th century. This double session allows for plenty of practice time to prepare for the evening ball. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DOUBLE SESSION.

5. Funeral and Mourning Traditions - Pauline Grondin
During times of health and happiness it is perhaps trying to turn our thoughts into doleful channels but sooner or later in our lives the sad time comes. Through the ages people looked upon the rituals of mourning and laying a loved to rest differently. Grave decorations became less morbid and more of a spiritual awakening. Superstitions and traditions continued to take on a more modern approach as did "saved by the bell", the graveyard shift" and "holding a wake". Mourning of the dead became a fashionable trend under the reign of Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert in 1861 and even common folk could earn their place in the community by their very acts of respect for the dearly departed. These traditions and customs traveled over the seas to Canada West and the rituals were continued and expanded upon. Even though we have our own traditions, their roots are firmly planted in the customs of the past.

6. Supporting the Silhouette - Dawn Luckham
"Supporting the Silhouette - So You've Got a Dress", offers a Power Point presentation combined with examples of reproduction garments and discussion on women's under clothing from 1790 - 1815. Dawn Luckham is proprietor of Daffodown Dilly Historic Costume and Custom Design. She has been involved with War of 1812 living history for 15 years and is one of the ladies who make up The Elegant Thimble Suttlery. Without question, she caught the "research bug" and has become obsessed with small details in clothing research for The War of 1812 period. Dawn's original post secondary education was in graphic art. She attended (as it was then called) The Ontario College of Art (now known as OCAD) and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. To further upgrade skills needed and diving right in deep into garment research, she returned to school, graduating in 2005 from a 3-year Fashion Design program at Fanshawe College, which included pattern drafting, pattern production and couture sewing skills. This combined with research provides the foundation needed to accurately reproduce extent garments studied. Dawn has created garments for museums and theatre as well as individual clients. She has researched and reproduced items from many time periods, but this first interest for the transitional period covering the late 18th and early 19th centuries remains a favorite. Most recently her research has been focused on women's foundation and support garments "in transition". During such a period of extreme fashionable change, the old styles of garments met with intense modification and experimentation. The selection and styles available to women were vast.

7. It's Not Just About the War! Civilian life during the period around the War of 1812 - Chris Timms
Though a watershed event in the history of Ontario, the War of 1812 was not the only thing happening at the time. Beyond the conflict the life of those trying to build a future was going on. Who were the civilians and how did they live? We will examine the period from 1810-1820 and the people who lived through it. Looking from a cultural perspective we will examine this critical period in the formation of the history of this province and how to present it in an interesting yet informative fashion. This seminar will be led by Chris Timm. Chris is a living historian who has interpreted a variety of military and civilian roles in Canada, the United States and Scotland. Among his various current efforts, he serves as a building interpreter at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton Ontario. He is a writer, pastor and lives with his wife Jennifer and five children in Kitchener Ontario.

8. The Regency Lady and Gentleman; Their Dress and Accessories - Peter and Miyoko Twist
A study of clothing styles, materials and embellishments during early 19th Century. We will look at original garments, paintings, drawings and museum collections to establish the fashionable look of the era. Peter Twist - Partner in Militaryheritage.com specializing in the reconstruction of correct period clothing and accessories. Over thirty years of experience in the museum field. Adviser to film and television projects on historical issues. Miyoko Twist - Became interested in historic clothing over 15 years ago. Has acquired an extensive library on the subject and visited numerous museums to study original samples. Her interest is in the studying the complete outfit with all the accessories to capture the feel of the period.

9. Through Their Eyes, using period artwork as reference material - Craig Williams
A brief examination of art and artists of the Empire era that will show what to look for in a "chronicler of their times" and help guide the attendee in selecting images to use as primary source documentation.

10. Living History Is All Theater, So Why Aren't You Performing? Subtitled What we should all be doing to entertain the paying customers and how to do it. - Elliot MacFarlane
How many of you have participated at events with people who sit in camp and cost the event more then the value they provide? It is not that much work to play an integral part of every event you do. Well over 75% of what you bring to an event should be something people want to see and ask about, not things to make your camp feel like your living room. What is it that the public is fascinated by and why? Five things that can entertain the masses and keep them coming back - and paying at the gate. Ways to transform an event and improve how we all perform.

11. The Battle of Chippawa - Jim Hill
A discussion on the Battle of Chippawa: Who, What, Where, When and Why of one of the most important engagements of the War of 1812

12. Finishing Touches: Regency Accessories - Susan Spencer
So often in fashion, it's the details that make the difference, and nowhere in fashion history is this more apparent than in the Regency period. This presentation will combine photographs of extant artifacts with period engravings and paintings to give a sense of the general aesthetics prevalent in the Regency period, as well as specifics on small items and accessories that can be added to your impression to make it more period correct. Items for both women and men will be included, as will items for a variety of levels of social status. Susan Spencer can't remember a time when history wasn't an important part of her life. She took her first "1st Prize" in historical costuming at the age of seven, and continued to compete in that field throughout her early life. Naturally enough, she ended up working at Fort Edmonton in the late 1970s, where she cut her teeth in the business of making history interesting to the general public. Although life events took her on a long professional hiatus from the world of history, her passion for the subject eventually led her back, and in 1993 she founded Spencer's Mercantile, which has now grown to be a leading supplier of historical reproduction goods.

13. Project H.M.S. Detroit: "The Good, the Bad, and the Autopsy"...Peter Rindlisbacher
A former Vice President of the Project, Rindlisbacher will describe the dream, successes, and ultimate failure to complete a reproduction British flagship from the War of 1812. By means of his firsthand information and news articles, he will tell the story of this 25 year effort, with a view to what lessons can be learned from this, the most ambitious naval replica project ever attempted in Ontario.

14. The Hamilton Scourge - What's New? - Gill Bibby
A discussion on the Hamilton and Scourge. Two 1812 US war ships sink on August 8th 1813 in Lake Ontario. The History, rediscovery, Cousteau dive Pictures, New Photo's and information from the 2008 Dive.

15. Costume Development - Process and Product Barry and Judy McPherson
Barry and Judy McPherson will lead the participants through a sequential process of developing patterns for the working class. The emphasis will be on men's costume between 1800 and 1821, and through powerpoint and dialogue, will work through a working man's jacket, trousers and waistcoat.

16. Fort Henry the Museum and it's collection - Ron Ridley
The process of creating an exciting museum by updating an aging exhibit using an eclectic collection and limited funds.

17. Culture and Structure of the Six Nation Natives from the Rev War through to the War of 1812 - Wolf Thomas
Wolf Thomas will talk to us about the Culture and Structure of the Six Nation Natives from the Rev War through to the War of 1812. His talk is based on Native stories passed on from generation to generation and usually quite different from our History Books which always took a very British View of events. Wolf Thomas is a Six Nation Historian, member of the Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan, part time actor, and a consultant on Books and movies.