In response to  Lucy Skjelstad's query--



1. The Association for Living Historical Farms and Agricultural
Museums (ALHFAM)  has a new committee: The First-Person Interpreters
Professional Network. We will host two sessions at this year's annual
conference in Waterloo, Ontario. One on researching  and interpreting
composite characters (your "ordinary folk") and one on incorporating
learning theory into first-person interpretation (co-sponsored with
the Education Committee). For more information on the committee, the
conference, and ALHFAM membership, check out ALHFAM's website at
www.alhfam.org  and my website at  www.voicenet.com/~frstprsn/.

2. At the risk of blowing my own horn, I have a book coming out in May
1998 that may help you. It is titled PAST INTO PRESENT: EFFECTIVE
TECHNIQUES FOR FIRST-PERSON HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION. (Chapel Hill,
NC and London: University of North Carolina Press, 1998). More
information is available from my website at
www.voicenet.com/~frstprsn/.

My partner David Emerson and I interpret several different
Revolutionary War characters, including a recruiting officer, Quaker
traveler, town crier, and sea captain. Also, as chairperson of
ALHFAM's FP committee, I know of quite a few folks who do "founding
fathers and mothers." Contact me privately for further information.

Hope this helps,


Stacy Roth
co-director, History on the Hoof
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Lucy Skjelstad <[log in to unmask]> wrote:



>Now I need to ask if any of you have, or know anyone who has, ever
>created living history characterization for any of the U.S. of A.'s
>Founding Fathers (and Mothers), Minutemen, Town Crier's or any other
>Revolutionary War period characters --including 'ordinary people'. The
>time period could go up into the mid or late 19th century, as long as
>they can talk about the ideas that shaped the new American democracy.  I
>want to create one or more characters to talk about the issues of that
>time period, about the arguments in the creation of the new democracy
>(especially about the Declaration of Independence and the U.S.
>Constitution).
>   I'd like to get ideas about how you developed the characters,  how
>you provided the actors with appropriate guidance to act in period,
>where you found authentic character information,  etc. Anything at all
>will help.

>Thanks so much.  You can reply on or off list, depending on whether you
>think your information would interest others.
>Lucy Skjelstad
><[log in to unmask]>