I’ve done a little rearranging of the categories for the blog. Hopefully this will make finding what you want a little easier. In doing so, I’ve added a new long-term project – “Travel Impression”. While I’ve decided not to do many, if any events, until we get settled properly, I’ve also decided to acknowledge the theme of travel that has constantly popped up time and time again over the years and actually focus on this interesting area by developing an educational impression on travel. As I work on this, I want to share my research, planning and process with you.
A little back story – Last fall I had the opportunity to develop an impression of a woman traveling across NY in the 1830s using rail, canal and stage. Two weeks ago, while talking with Bevin about the linen plaid recently added to my stash, she suggested a travel dress to expand on last fall. That was a combination of a ‘light-bulb moment’ and a ‘duh moment’. I felt like that answer should have been staring me in the face. Back when I started CW reenacting, we often used travel as a significant portion of our interpretation (we had the luxury of our events being village, home or train based.) Since then aspects of travel have always been of passing interest to me. Developing a travel impression is an excellent way of bringing together many material culture pieces as well as aspects of social and regional history.
So… Step 1 – Make a list. How I love t0-do lists.
Travel impression
(1850, 1830, 1840, 1860) Develop files on (arrange research and fill in the gaps) Travel images Types/Time/Instances of Travel Cold weather travel Hot weather travel Long-distance & over-night travel Rail, canal, stage, private (carriage, wagon) What a woman traveler would have had List – Acquire & make (note the advantages and disadvantages of each.) Types of luggage Trunks Bonnet trunks Bonnet boxes Types of bags Large carpet bags Small carpet bags Travel bags Small bags Travel attire – Differences between travel attire and everyday attire Safety while traveling Coming soon … Step 2 – The items to make list and the items to acquire list
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
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