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Conversations on the Commons: Historical Reenactors
January 20, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Historical Reenactors: Hobby, Avocation, Profession, Lifestyle?
January 20, 2023, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
A conversation with historical reenactors Clare Hurley, Chris Hurley, and Sarah McDonough, moderated by Eric Peterson, Executive Director of the Waterworks Museum and Vice President of the Mass History Alliance
Many of us love history, but there are some that take their enthusiasm for the past to extraordinary lengths: they actually live history. They immerse themselves in a particular historical era, assuming the identities of historical types or specific individuals for hours or even days at a time. Their commitment is not just measured by time and money invested, but by attention to historical accuracy. Studying the period, eating the food, making, and wearing the clothes, learning the social conventions, firing the weapons: it’s an all-in devotion to getting the details right. But what is it about reviving an historically accurate event or person that inspires living history practitioners to endure itchy, ill-fitting clothes, weather events, long marches, and endless practice? Is it the thrill of public performance? Fulfillment from teaching accurate interpretations? Camaraderie amongst the avid? Join local reenactors as we explore their long-time allegiance to bringing the past back to life.
Registration is free. REGISTER HERE!
This Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive.
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- Christopher J. Hurley has a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an M.A. in Software Engineering from Brandeis University and works for a medical software company. He has been a historical reenactor since 2007, usually in portrayals related to the era of the American Revolution. Although he’s often seen as a nameless militiaman in countless battles, Chris has portrayed distinct individuals caught up in the tides of history. In the annual Battle of Lexington reenactment, Chris portrays Asahel Porter, a released prisoner of the British Regulars who may be the first fatality of the Revolution. Chris is a board member of The Lexington Minute Men.
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- Clare L. Hurley holds a BS in Biology from Framingham State University and a MMHS from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. She has been working at the Heller School editing manuscripts related to health economics for nearly 25 years. She began in the hobby of 18th century reenacting in 2005 for the Woburn Historical Society and was joined by her husband in that hobby a couple of years later. She participates in numerous events with the Lexington Minute Men. She is also part of the Lexington Historical Society (LHS) Colonial Singers and Linen and Lace, a three-person musical group performing Colonial-era music. While Clare mainly participates in 18th century reenactments, she has also portrayed a Pilgrim, a civil war nurse, and an Irish maid (complete with a counterfeit brogue) circa 1910. Clare is a board member of the Woburn Historical Society.
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- Sarah McDonough has an M.A. in Museum Education from Tufts University, specializing in 18th century social history and material culture, as well as a background in theater. Currently the Public Programs Manager at Lexington Historical Society, Sarah began her work in Lexington as a costumed museum educator and tour guide in 2009, and joined the world of reenacting in 2013. Over time, Sarah’s historical hobbies have grown from simple sewing to hearth cooking and spinning thread on a spinning wheel. She is a member of His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot, a British Army reenactment group, and is a volunteer at Minuteman National Park and Newport Historical Society, where she has portrayed a wide range of colonial women from tavern keepers to codfish aristocracy.
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- Eric Peterson has a BA in History from Vassar College. In 2009, while earning a Masters in Museum Studies from Harvard’s Extension School, he volunteered at the newly created Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill, MA and has worked there ever since. For the past 5 years, he has served as the Executive Director of the Waterworks Museum. Committed to strengthening public awareness of the vital importance of history by helping to protect the sites, artifacts and organizations that bring the past into the present, Mr. Peterson currently serves as Vice President & Treasurer of the Massachusetts History Alliance. He is also a co-founder of Industrial History New England.
Questions? Email commons@masshistoryalliance.org
Conversations on the Commons
Where people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent, empathize, laugh, complain, think, collaborate, brainstorm, plan, and in general be up to no good.