At Old Fort Niagara the rule was that any smoking in public while in uniform had to be period appropriate, so clay pipes. Smokeless tobacco was also an option as it was fairly common amongst the lower class in the 18th century. There was an employee only area by the men's changing room where they could go and have cigarettes while still in uniform as it was out of the way from visitors. An ashtray full of sand was provided and employees were responsible of emptying the butts. 

I believe there was something in the employee handbook that all interpreters were to act in a period appropriate manner and use only period appropriate objects in their interaction with the public; leaving i-pods in the locker room, drinking from period appropiate mugs, eating period appropriate foods (lunches were usually taken in that employee only area or in the office), etc. I don't know any legal repercussions, but as long as an alternative is offered then it should be fine. The only time we had a problem was when one guy tried quitting smoking while in uniform and was more surley than usual, but with a British army soldier, you kind of expect an attitude.

Rory Bialecki
No longer the Interpretive Programming Assistant at Old Fort Niagara
Searching for Employment


-----Original Message-----
From: Zoe Keefer-Norris <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, Dec 17, 2009 1:09 pm
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] smoking in costume



Do other museums have policies stating that their employees may not smoke in public while off the clock but still in their historic costumes? Is this a legal thing to ask employees to obey?
 
Zoe Keefer-Norris
Education Coordinator
Museums of Old York
 
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