A How-to Guide for Creating History Clubs, Events, and Parties
From start to finish, this lens offers a how-to planning guide for creating history-based group activities, for fun or for profit. Do you have a favorite era in history that you daydream about every so often? Wouldn't it just plain be fun to experience your daydream brought to life? We're here to help you do just that! Reenacting history is a modern day phenomenon that is growing rapidly as a favorite family hobby. The wonderful thing is, this activity has inherent educational and archival value for society at large. At a time when the average high school student thinks history is boring, here comes a social hobby with the power to ignite a natural passion for history studies at any age. At LetsPlayHistory.org we believe a love of learning history starts with a single point of interest. Developing that point of interest - which often starts out as a daydream - is what reenacting is all about. LetsPlayHistory.org is here to make reenacting events easy to create and sustain. As an American non-profit startup we are dedicated to supporting the reenactment arts by providing cohesive services to all those who contribute. This includes museums, antique dealers and societies, schools and camps, and enthusiasts of every historical interest. In time our member services will include free localized and national event calendars, electronic mini classes (for historical "how-to" preservation, and for partnership fundraising), free advertising resources, and networking resources. We invite you to learn more about the LPH project by visiting our fundraising blog at www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/ .
Getting Started: Three Planning Guides
Here are three links to free printable planning guides, in concise format. They briefly cover tips and procedure suggestions for each step in the planning process.
- History Club Startup
- Overview and guide. Includes an LPH group charter.
- History-Based Event Planning
- Overview and guide.
- Private Party Planning
- Overview, and checklist guide.
Creatively Pinpoint Your Daydream
What is it that you would really like to experience? In history reenacting the possibilities are endless, so here are a few questions and ideas to get the creative juices flowing:What's your favorite era, culture or historical subject of interest?
- Egyptian - Roman - Viking - Greecian
- Ghengis Kahn - Samurai
- Medieval - Elizabethan - Renaissance
- American Colonization - American Indian
- French or American Revolutions
- Oregon Trail and Pioneering - Old West
- Railroading - Pony Express - Napoleonic
- Regency - Victorian - Civil War
- Slavery - Edwardian - Women's Suffrage
- WWI - WWII - 1940's
- Roaring 20's - 1950's - 1960's
- Automobiles - Horses - Aviation
What kind of clothes do you dream of donning?
What kind of props would you like to include in your experience?
Do you want a one time party, or would you like to start or join a club that will enjoy ongoing events as a hobby?
Once you've answered these questions it's time to brainstorm event ideas. Here is a short example list:
- Roman chariot races across desert country, or at night by bon fire light
- Victorian Oil Painting in the Rose Gardens, and a Picnic
- An annual Civil War blue and gray ball, perhaps with costume recognitions
- A frontier style musket and turkey shoot (for Thanksgiving)
- A pony express relay race, all to deliver one important letter cross country
(Let's do it! See the Join and Support LPH module, below)
- A live jousting tournament with knights in armor
- Reproduction "antique" hot air balloon races (a cross country relay?)
Yeah! You get the idea...
Once you know what it is you would like to achieve, you're ready to begin the planning process using this LPH lens. In time you will be able to use a full spectrum of LPH resources that will allow you to more efficiently form online or local groups, do history research and ask questions, learn historical know-how, get help creating costumes and props, raise money, and promote your event for free, all in one place. For now, while we're in the startup phase, pre-LPH resources like this lens, or the LPH fundraising blog offer valuable direction and support (www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/).
Research History for Authentic Reenactment Planning
This step will prove to be incredibly fun! The more you know about your era or culture of history interest, the more authentic you can make your reenactment event. Greater authenticity adds greater cultural value to what you're doing, because it becomes a form of history preservation. So, as long as you're at it, document your information sources for preservation's sake.
As you go, you will find you come up with more questions to search out answers to. This is what we mean when we say a single point of interest leads to a natural passion for learning history.
Here is a list of terrific research resources:
World Wide Web
As you go, you will find you come up with more questions to search out answers to. This is what we mean when we say a single point of interest leads to a natural passion for learning history.
Here is a list of terrific research resources:
World Wide Web
- LPH University
- The LPH University will one day be a virtual library of historical "how-to" information. For now the University is in its infancy, with a call to historians and history buffs to contribute. Please come and visit this page for more information, and also see the LPH University module below.
- History Channel Online, Videos
- www.history.com/media.do
- Interactive History Activities Online
- www.memorialhall.mass.edu/activities/index.html
- (Your) Public Broadcasting Company
- www.pbs.org/
Libraries - here are some online: - Library Portal, by Subject
- http://dir.yahoo.com/Reference/libraries/
- Online Research Library
- www.questia.com/Index.jsp
- One-Stop U.S. History Library
- www.loc.gov/index.html?gclid=COKBuL2pyIwCFQEBYQod5FLpXg
College Professors
History museums and institutes - here are some online: - Smithsonian Institute Online
- www.si.edu/
- Aviation History Online Museum
- www.aviation-history.com/
- Central Pacific Railroad Online Museum
- www.cprr.org/
- Colonial Williamsburg Online
- www.history.org/history/museums/online_exhibits.cfm
- The Henry Ford Museum
- www.hfmgv.org/
- Old Salem Museums and Gardens Online
- www.oldsalem.org/
- Swanee Museum Online (History of the South)
- www.leonidaspolk.org/
- The Food Museum Online
- www.foodmuseum.com/
- Native American History Museum Online
- www.lostworlds.org/
- Center for Military History Online
- www.army.mil/cmh-pg/
- Telegraph and Scientific Instrument Museums
- www.chss.montclair.edu/~pererat/telegraph.html
- Black History Museum Online
- www.pluggedinteacher.com/?p=873
- James Town and York Town History Online
- www.historyisfun.org/
- Pre-Civil War Midwest U.S. History
- www.connerprairie.org/discover_learn/historyonline.aspx
- American Museum of Photography
- http://www.photographymuseum.com/
- European Museum Portal
- www.euromuse.net/
History societies (most often online by state)
Sometimes elders
Your own group members
Specialty magazines - History Magazines at Amazon.com
- www.amazon.com/b/ref=pd_sl_aw_flat-hi_magazines_27562289_1/?&node=602342
Forming a Special Interest History Group
FIRST PHASE: Find Like-Minded Friends
If your daydream will require a fair number of participants, you'll need to connect with like-minded enthusiasts who want to share in your period activity(ies). They'll become some of your best friends!
LPH will soon offer free specialized member networking resources similar to Care2.com upgrades. The LPH networks will be national, with regional or local chapters. Until then, here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Word of mouth is free! Start talking to friends, family and co-workers.
- Find forums and online groups to announce to.
- Run newspaper ads. This requires an out of pocket expense.
- Join local parades, or other opportunities for costume & signage display. Small town parades often do not require participation fees.
-Send or post invitations to churches, museums and schools, if applicable. Request announcement inclusion in the organization's newsletter(s).
SECOND PHASE: Meet and Share
Once you have a few people who are interested, you'll need to communicate and share information. Get together in person, if at all possible, but when it's not and you need "in-between" meetings, here are some communication and conferencing resources:
If your daydream will require a fair number of participants, you'll need to connect with like-minded enthusiasts who want to share in your period activity(ies). They'll become some of your best friends!
LPH will soon offer free specialized member networking resources similar to Care2.com upgrades. The LPH networks will be national, with regional or local chapters. Until then, here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Word of mouth is free! Start talking to friends, family and co-workers.
- Find forums and online groups to announce to.
- Run newspaper ads. This requires an out of pocket expense.
- Join local parades, or other opportunities for costume & signage display. Small town parades often do not require participation fees.
-Send or post invitations to churches, museums and schools, if applicable. Request announcement inclusion in the organization's newsletter(s).
SECOND PHASE: Meet and Share
Once you have a few people who are interested, you'll need to communicate and share information. Get together in person, if at all possible, but when it's not and you need "in-between" meetings, here are some communication and conferencing resources:
- Yahoo Groups
- You can find or create special interest groups here. The only thing w don't care for with the system is how unorganized the discussion threads become. But it's free, and good for starters.
- MeetUp.com
- A great tool for local meeting startup. We found the system unfriendly when trying to create a new group name, but then, maybe we missed something! It's free. Give it a try.
- Care2.com
- A very active community, with free services, as well as pay-per-communication options.
- www.InstantConference.com
- Teleconferencing resource. No setup fee. Participants each pay their regular carrier toll. Up to 150 callers for 6 hours.
- http://www.freeconference.com/
- Teleconferencing resource. No setup fee. Participants each pay their regular carrier toll. Up to 150 callers for 3 or 4 hours, depending on plan.
- http://vyew.com/content/
- Web conferencing resource. Useful if you need visual communication tools. Free for up to 20 people willing to see ads. Reasonable fees apply for ad free use.
Authentic Costuming
In most cases, costuming is an ongoing, creative outlet for reenactment groups. Whenever possible, do your costuming together. It's a lot of fun! Churches, schools, or Boys and Girls Clubs often have large rooms available for free on Saturdays. Be sure to plan for excellent cleanup so you'll be welcome to return.
Whether you're new to sewing, or a veteran, the following 16 page e-book is a handy reference guide for choosing historically authentic garment components in today's market place. A portion of proceeds go to support the LPH project.
Whether you're new to sewing, or a veteran, the following 16 page e-book is a handy reference guide for choosing historically authentic garment components in today's market place. A portion of proceeds go to support the LPH project.
- The Sewing Greenhorn's Guide to Period Clothing and Costumes
- (Link takes you to the LPH University page) This guide includes: Checklist format throughout, shopping lists with price guides, project time requirements, illustrated tutorials for FAST learning of basic sewing skills (worth $35+ elsewhere), period-compatible fabric selection, period-compatible notions selection, history notes, thread and needle selection, and resources for authentic early hand sewing techniques. Everything you need to jump in and do it right, right from the beginning! $9 pdf download.
- http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/timelinepages/timeline.htm
- A great pictorial costume timeline
- http://www.costumes.org/
- Costuming resources for do-it-yourself.
- http://www.costumepage.org/
- Costuming resources for do-it-yourself
- http://www.thecostumer.com/
- New York company that sells ready-made costumes.
- http://www.starcostumes.com/
- Ohio company that sells ready-made costumes.
- www.ebay.com/ (and other thrift sources)
- You can find most anything you need on eBay, new or used.
Other resources include local costume shops for ready made wear, and your local lineup of thrift stores, which are a gold mine of costuming supplies, all for cheap! If all else fails, don't forget Mom, Grandma, or an Aunt who likes to sew. They'll enjoy helping you with this kind of sewing project!
Make $$$, and Help Build the LPH University
One day LPH will be a national treasure-trove of low-cost, value-packed, member-contributed historical how-to information. For now, while LPH is still in its infancy, there's a wonderful opportunity for history buffs to get published and earn royalties.LPH would like to call upon creative historians to produce pdf, Power Point, or video mini e-class material for the following (and more!):
- A how-to presentation for authentically constructing an "antique" hot air balloon
- A how-to presentation for authentically forging your own armor
- A how-to presentation for authentically building a Roman chariot
- The early history of Lacrosse, the game rules, and proper setting for reenactment
The royalty split will be automated at 95/5, with 95% going to you (or your organization as a fundraiser), and 5% going to support LPH. If you're interested and would like to commit, we will hold the topic for you exclusively. Contact us through the blog contact page at http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/lets-play-history-contact/
Do you have other terrific class ideas? Please submit them at
http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/wwwletsplayhistoryorg/university/ , which takes you to the LPH fundraising blog. We can talk details there!
Financial Support for Your Daydreaming Hobby
As in most any endeavor, the initial expense will come out of your pocket. Reenacting expenses can ring up large numbers over time, but because reenacting is often of interest to the public, you always have the option of doing events as fundraisers to support your hobby. As LPH progresses you'll even be able to promote your events to a target audience for free by utilizing the localized (or national) event calendars, and LPH newsletters.
Another avenue for financial support is to find industry-related sponsors, or even township business sponsors for smaller areas. You advertise for them in your event literature, and they provide you income, goods, and/or other resources.
Any time you do an event as a fundraiser, you should create an event logo, and sell that logo on T-shirts, cups, caps, etc.. You make a few bucks, AND the articles become walking advertisements for the club, LPH, or upcoming events.
And finally, always keep in mind that your group could co-author a history-related mini class to sell on LPH, and thereby enjoy passive royalties!
Another avenue for financial support is to find industry-related sponsors, or even township business sponsors for smaller areas. You advertise for them in your event literature, and they provide you income, goods, and/or other resources.
Any time you do an event as a fundraiser, you should create an event logo, and sell that logo on T-shirts, cups, caps, etc.. You make a few bucks, AND the articles become walking advertisements for the club, LPH, or upcoming events.
And finally, always keep in mind that your group could co-author a history-related mini class to sell on LPH, and thereby enjoy passive royalties!
Re-creating, or Collecting Antique Props
If you've ever attended a Civil War reenactment, you probably noticed the cannons, tents, horses, guns, uniforms, wagons, not to mention costumes and house wares... they're all privately owned items. (The items a reenactor collects comprise their personal reenacting "kit.") Some items are reproduction, and other pieces are actual antiques.
As you can imagine, the collecting of props is fun, but sparse, and therefore creative problem solving is always in order.
One of the services that will be offered through LPH is a reproduction development co-op, and purchasing co-op. For example, authentically sized and shaped ladies' parasols are extremely difficult to re-create, and you can't buy proper hardware anywhere. As a group, LPH could approach a modern umbrella manufacturer and guarantee sufficient purchasing numbers to warrant their production of a proper parasol design, or a parasol frame with cover pattern.
Wouldn't that be nice? And it could apply to anything from china, to obscure military artifacts.
As you can imagine, the collecting of props is fun, but sparse, and therefore creative problem solving is always in order.
One of the services that will be offered through LPH is a reproduction development co-op, and purchasing co-op. For example, authentically sized and shaped ladies' parasols are extremely difficult to re-create, and you can't buy proper hardware anywhere. As a group, LPH could approach a modern umbrella manufacturer and guarantee sufficient purchasing numbers to warrant their production of a proper parasol design, or a parasol frame with cover pattern.
Wouldn't that be nice? And it could apply to anything from china, to obscure military artifacts.
- LPH Coop Registry, and Blog Post for Coop Ideas
- Join the LPH Coop Registry for free, and without obligation. If you have suggestions for the Coop, please feel free to come post them on our blog! What's hard to find? What common expenses could a reenactors' group Coop negotiate for savings? The possibilities are endless!
- LPH Merchantile
- A brand new place where reenactment suppliers, or "suttlers," can post their goods and services, free of charge.
- Paper Mache How-To and Recipes
- Now, there's always those props that can't be bought, for whatever reason. That's where and why ingenuity and creativity flow like water in reenacting circles! The mainstays for prop creation are paper mache, cardboard, and good old duct tape!
- Stage Prop Tips
- Here's a website that offers tips on creating stage props.
- Movie Set Auctions
- One way to secure ready-made props is to attend movie set auctions, often facilitated on eBay (you did hear about the Dukes of Hazard car, The General Lee, recently going for big dollars on eBay, right?). Just search eBay often for movie props. This link is to a company that auctions off movie props. They have a running list of the movies they're auctioning props from.
- Put Out Want Ads for Free
- Another way to acquire specific pieces is to put out wanted ads. LPH will be ideal since it is a history-loving community that thrives on antiquing, AND classified want ads will be free to members. You could also utilize CraigsList.com, which is free.
- Reenactor Fest
- This company specializes in reenacting conventions, which is a great way to explore the hobby of reenacting before diving in. Their conventions cater to all the popular time periods.
Publicize Your Event
If you would like to invite the public to your events, here's how you get the word out:- Hire your local town crier (the guy in the picture!). And if that doesn't work out...
- Flyers & posters.
- Word of mouth (in person and online).
- Inform Radio, TV and newspaper offices. This is hit or miss freebie advertising, depending on space availability and their interest. Then again, if you have the budget you could pay for ads.
- Call or write local churches, especially if your event has cultural charm or religious Relevancy.
- Call or notify local schools, especially if your event has relevancy.
- Call or notify local chambers of commerce, and while you're at it, ask for their advice.
- In due time, utilize the LPH newsletter or event calendars (free w/ $12 annual membership).
Ways You Can Join and Support LPH
- As of June 9, 2007, LPH is in its infancy, and not yet officially a non-profit. Founder resources are small. To learn more about LPH progress, and Carrie's story and impetuous for the LPH project, visit the LPH blog at www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/, and also visit (my) Carrie's other squidoo page, www.squidoo.com/spirittalk.
- Until there's an approximate $5000 website in place, there is no official way to join, and no $12 annual membership fee structure for support. Contributions of any size are voluntary (and joyfully appreciated), and can be made at the fundraising blog, www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/.
- Our most immediate need is non-profit status, ~$3000. You can donate towards this expense at the blog. Just note if you want the donation to go toward this expense only (all updates on LPH progress are posted on the blog).
- Sign up on the blog for the free LPH newsletter, and/or join a LPH Notification list for official website launch announcement.
- Create historical how-to class material (check first for topic availability), or submit ideas for classes you would like to see on the list, by posting on the blog, or emailing.
- U.S. horse owners coast to coast - up to doing a national Pony Express reenactment? Visit / Join our Yahoo Group: Horses Through History (LPHhorses) at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPHhorses for details.
- Share this lens and the LPH project with others - it's fun!
- Visit and support the LPH fundraising blog at: www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaDay/ . The pictures below are samples of some of the fundraising artwork available for purchase.
Blog Post Watch
Hmmm... This seems like a great way to find sister blogs out there! We'll let Google watch for our search terms and see what happens...
- the "most historically accurate reenactment"
- Bash at the Clash is designed to be the most historically accurate reenactment of the Civil War's Ba...
- Reenactment of Abe's journey ends
- A flatboat used to re-enact Abraham Lincoln's 1828 flatboat journey down the Ohio and Mississippi ri...
- Reenactment of Abe's journey ends in New Orleans
- A flatboat used to re-enact Abraham Lincoln's 1828 flatboat journey down the Ohio and Mississippi ri...
- Re-Enactment & Reconstruction :: RE: Show here your roman soldier ...
- Pierpaolo made all of our Gladii Hispanienses, I'll show you these beauties on the gladii thread int...
New Guestbook
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