The Hive: Living History Symposium

 

Check below for the 2024 Schedule:

Registration is required and will open on January 20, 2024.
The registration link can be found on the Friends of Minute Man National Park website.

 

 

Saturday, February 17th, 2024

9:30 – 11:30 am (concurrent morning opportunities):

• 18th Century Show and Tell of objects

• Drill (Please bring your own musket and an empty cartridge box (and a bayonet if one is available). Safety inspections will be completed at the beginning of the drill.

• Friendly kit consultations (Wearing your historical clothing is encouraged if you wish to receive consultation)

• Comfortable sewing circles and project time (bring your own project)

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11:30 am Lunch Break: Please bring your own lunch for a lunch break; light refreshments will be available. Participants are welcome to bring items to share as well.

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11:45 am Welcoming remarks from Superintendent Simone Monteleone of Minute Man National Historical Park

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11:50 am Welcome to the Armory from the Massachusetts Army National Guard Lt. Col. Geoff Love

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11:55 am The Friends of Minute Man National Park welcome from Executive Director Kathleen Fahey

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12:05 pm Revolution250 Update from Jonathan Lane

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12:15 – 12:45 pm (Mini session) Overview of the Minute Man 250 Thematic Framework - presented by Park Rangers Jim Hollister and Jarrad Fuoss:
The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is well underway! The staff at Minute Man have developed an interpretive framework that carry our program through the next several years.

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1:00 – 1:45 pm – 1774: The Empire Strikes Back, and Resistance becomes Revolution - presented by Professor Bob Allison of Suffolk University: Parliament responded to Boston's destroying the tea by closing the port and suspending the 1691 charter. The people of Massachusetts would no longer have control over their municipal governments. Instead of silencing the local resistance, these moves brought the other colonies into an alliance with Massachusetts to begin a revolution against Parliament's authority. Find out what went wrong for the Empire in 1774.

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2:00 – 2:30 pm. (Mini session) Techniques for Informal Visitor Engagement - presented by Park Ranger Jarrad Fuoss: “Information, as such, is not interpretation. Interpretation is revelation based upon information” - Freeman Tilden. As living history interpreters we become, for our visitors, the face of the past. They are drawn, not only to our clothing and accoutrements, but the deep knowledge they expect we have in wearing these things. Between our knowledge of history and the excitement of the visitor there is an opportunity for what we call “interpretation.” What is it? What are some techniques the National Park Service uses to engage visitors and make meaningful connections to the people of the past?

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2:40 – 3:25 pm – By His Excellency’s Command: General Gage, the British Army and the People of Salem in 1774 - presented by Dr. Emily Murphy: In June of 1774 the newly appointed Royal Governor of Massachusetts, General Thomas Gage, was eager to escape the political turbulence of Boston. Therefore, he took the drastic step of removing himself and the provincial legislature to the seemingly calmer waters of Salem. Two regiments of British regulars came with him. That summer the people of Salem came into direct contact with a display of Royal power on a scale they had never before experienced. What was the social and political landscape of the town like in 1774? How did the people deal with their new neighbors?

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3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Concurrent Sessions:

• Too clean! Incorporating appropriate levels of garment distress into your historical impression - presented by Adam Hodges-LeCaire: It happens all too often. You participate in an amazing living history event and, naturally, start posting photos on social media. Then, out of the blue, someone comments bluntly “Too clean.” Though most of us do not live in our reenacting clothes nearly as often as those we portray did, how much wear and tear should we display in our historical impressions? Should it be allowed to happen naturally over time or are there simple things we can do to “distress” the garment? And of course, much depends upon your particular impression.

• A Pressing Matter: Media Literacy & 18th Century Newspapers - presented by Michele Gabrielson: Media and information literacy are essential 21st century skills in order to be an informed citizen. These are also skills that when applied in a historical context, help us become better historians. In this discussion, we will analyze perspective, language, and bias in 18th century newspapers with a critical lens to encourage more use of newspapers in our impressions as historical interpreters.

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Sunday, February 18th, 2024

9:30 – 12:00 pm (concurrent morning opportunities):

• 18th Century Show and Tell of objects

• Drill (Please bring your own musket and an empty cartridge box (and a bayonet if one is available). Safety inspections will be completed at the beginning of the drill

• Friendly kit consultations (Wearing your historical clothing is encouraged if you wish to receive consultation)

• Comfortable sewing circles and project time (bring your own project)

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12:00 - 12:30 pm Lunch Break: Please bring your own lunch for a lunch break; light refreshments will be available. Participants are welcome to bring items to share as well.

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12:30 – 1:30 pm – Lives of the Embattled Farmers: The Towns of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord in 1775 - a panel discussion with Alex Cain, Don Hafner, Bob Gross: The towns of Lexington, Lincoln and Concord were farming communities. Many of the families who called these towns home had been there for multiple generations. In this panel discussion we will look at the social and economic dynamics of these three towns, their similarities and their differences.

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1:45 – 2:45 pm Concurrent Sessions

• Women’s hair styles and cosmetics - presented by Renee Walker-Tuttle: A good historical impression starts at the top. Learn about women’s hairstyles and use of cosmetics in 18th century New England and how to do a simple hairstyle. Explore some common hair myths, and the how hair and cosmetics differed in America vs Europe.

• Men’s hair styles - presented by Neils Hobbs and Sean Considine A good historical impression starts at the top. Learn about 18th century men’s hairstyles, civilian and military.

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3:00 – 4:00 pm Concurrent Sessions

• “Fitted with the Greatest Exactness" The Material Culture of Appearance of the 18th Century British Soldier - presented by Sean Considine and Niels Hobbs: When building a British soldier impression, how your garments and accoutrements fit and how you wear them matter just as much as the correct material, lace, buttons or facings color. Learn how to do it right based on primary source documentation.

• Pinning Gowns & Filling Pockets: How to wear women's clothing well & have fun pulling from your pockets! (Ruth Hodges) Learn a quick and easy way to pin your gown. Discover new ways to wear your handkerchief, your hat, your apron, and your gown skirts. And learn how to engage visitors with the contents of your pockets. Guess what, it's all about CONTEXT!

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4:00 pm: Symposium concludes

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Parking and Accessibility Information:

A small parking lot with accessible parking is available at the Massachusetts National Guard Armory at 91 Everett Street, Concord MA. There is also ample free on-street parking on adjacent streets and additional parking available at the Alcott Elementary School, 93 Laurel Street, Concord, MA. A wheelchair lift is available to enter the building.

 

Thank you to our 2024 event sponsors!

Friends of Minute Man National Park
Revolution 250
Freedom's Way National Heritage Area

And also to our venue host, the Massachusetts Army National Guard