Historical Culture Lecture Offerings

Educational Civil War Slide Lectures

• Civil War Ladies' Headwear - a survey of the various styles, customs, and mores of the period. Includes slides, hand outs, and originals display.
• Ladies' Headwear, 1800-present - a survey of the evolutionary changes in ladies' millinery. Includes slides, hand outs, and originals display.
• What Did They Wear? - A detailed look of the fashions of the Civil War period. Includes slides, hand outs, and originals display.
• A Century of Fashion - a survey of the evolutionary changes in women's apparel of the 19th century. Includes slides, hand outs, and originals displays.
• Beauty and Hair of the Civil War Lady - a somewhat unusual, but interesting topic of research. (If the group is of manageable size, an outgrowth of this lecture could include a hairdressing demonstration and or workshop for individuals to practice on each other.)
• Mourning Practices of the Civil War Era - a look at the customs dictating appropriate behavior at the time of bereavement and the permeation of mourning in all aspects of society.
• Boys of the War - the story of young boys who participated in the bloodiest war of all time. Actual case histories and photos. Includes slides.
• 19th Century Curtural History including:
  • Fashions of the period and examination of originals
  • Jewelry - recognizing and dating period jewelry. Originals including Remembrance and Hair jewelry
  • Mourning Practices - Manners and Mores
  • Letters from Home - Sharing of letters, diaries and newspaper clippings from the period
  • Boys of the War - examination of underage boys as soldiers
  • 19th Century Photography - Trace the exciting new developments in photography and its impact on the culture
• Textile Conservation - learn how to clean and store your vintage textiles

Educational Tours

• Frederick County Historical Society
• National Civil War Medical Museum
• Art and Architecture Walking Tour
• Historical Frederick Walking Tour

Workshops

Embellishments

Hands on instruction on making your own authentically reproduced embellishments for millinery and/or apparel adornment. Minimum 6, maximum 10. Students need needles, thread, and scissors. All other materials will be provided. Hand outs included. One hour instruction at $30 per person.

Bonnet Making

Each student is instructed on the parts of a bonnet and appropriate trim. Hand blocked spoon bonnet forms of wool felt, fur felt, and Panama straw will be ordered in advance from the instructor at a cost of $75 per bonnet.Click here for color samples. The student may then either buy vintage feathers, flowers, ruching, lace, braid, and wide ribbon from the instructor or bring their own trims. All participants will leave with a lovely bonnet exuding the unique creativity of the owner. Minimum 6, maximum 10. More than one session can be scheduled if needed. Students will need needles, thread, pins, and scissors. Hand outs included. One and one half hours instruction.

Honorarium

Various plans can be worked out. In general, for a weekend of seminars I will need transportation and hotel and meals accommodation. The lectures are given gratis for the enrichment of the student of history. I do , however, need to be able to offer my products for sale as in a resource area.

Single lectures within one hour of Frederick,MD are free to non-profit groups. Other groups within the specified radius will be minimally charged.

Workshops will be run as stated previously.

Feel free to suggest topics of interest you would like to see explored

Credentials / Experience

• Published journalist for various CW magazines and journals
• Milliner of CW headwear (Milliner education Ardis School of Design, D.C.)
• Sutler at CW reenactments
• Collector of original period pieces
• Guest lecturer at various CW Roundtables, seminars, school programs,Master Docent series
• Studied under experts in the field through symposiums, seminars, hands-on classes, and keeping up with historical literature
• On-going research at appropriate museums across the country
• Personal interviews with the leading authoritys
• CW Medical Museum volunteer and charter member
• Historical Society docent and director of Board of Trustees
• Member Costume Society
• Adjunct professor at Frederick Community College - Class Titles: "19th Century Cultrual History" and "Conserving your Artifacts"
• Humanities Council of Maryland Speaker's Bureau - "A Century of Fashion"
• Vintage Clothing "Expert" for Treasured Heirlooms events
• Client List: Brandywine Reenactment (Delaware), Wilson Creek (Missouri), Arkansas State Historical Park, Mystic Harbor, Senior Citizen Homes, Master Docent Series, Art Club, Ocean City Library System, Salisbury Historical Club, schools, other non profit organizations

Personal Notes

• Public school teacher 25 years
• BS, University of MD, MA, Hood College
• Life-long resident of Frederick, MD
• "Career" volunteer: Historical Society, CW Medical Museum, Literacy Council, Hospital Auxillary(Select Seconds), Library volunteer, Festival of the Arts, In the Streets, Art and Architecture tours, 250th city celebration, 250th county celebration
• Memberships: CW Medical Museum, Historical Society, Delaplaine Visual Arts, Art Association, Home-based Business Organization, Professional Women's Organization
• Board of Directors, Frederick Festival of Arts Board of Directors, Frederick County Historical Society
• Click here to view an article published in the Frederick Magazine September 1998 issue.