Impressions Docent costume.

[major bill]

Being a docent at the Michigan History Museum I have the option to dress in a period costume or not. I rarely wear a costume. Today a member of the costume committee encouraged me to wear a period costume once in a while, when school field trips start up in a couple of weeks. I could put on one of the Civil War costumes they have in the costume closet. I could buy a Civil War costume, but I am cheap. The costume committee does have some funds to use up before the end of the budget year. So here are the Civil War caps that are in size 7 1/2. Not sure about them. Not much to choose from, the Museum does have a hospital stewart jacket and trousers.

I want something comfortable and easy to wear. Perhaps the Museum would buy me a set of World War Two, naval dungeries.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Dungarees from At the Front will start at around $150. Civil War 4-button and kersey trousers wouldn´t be an uncomfortable day wear. It would run around $300 from C&C Sutlery or $350 from Fall Creek.

US Navy Package

The source for authentic, quality reproduction WW2 uniforms and field gear, since 1992.

www.atthefront.com

 

[major bill]

The Museum has a seargeant frock coat and trousers I could wear, but all their plain forage caps are too small. They could just buy me a forage cap in my size. I have a quality forage cap I wear to SUVCV meetings which I could take off the SUVCW insgnia when I wanted to wear a Civil War costume. I am allowed to wear regular shoes (I would avoid wearing white sneakers). They also don't expect us to wear period glasses with costumes. So I could get by with zero costs out of my pocket.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Is it a costume or a uniform that you are wanting to wear? There is a difference.....When I reenact, I do not wear a costume, as I have too much respect for the person and time period that I am representing.

 

[major bill]

The docents at the Michigan History Museum wear "costumes", some are uniforms, others are civilian in nature. Many docents are reenactors who supply their own outfits (both civilian and military, which must be approved by the costume committee. The Museum sees us as docents in costumes, not as reenactors. The purpose of docents in costumes is to add to the enjoyment of the children and adults who visit. Hence, modern shoes and glasses are acceptable for the Civil War or other eras. For example I could wear leather army boots with a Civil War uniform, but also 1840s farmer, or 1880s miner. For all I would wear my modern eyes glasses rather than purchase period glasses from three different eras.

 

[bdtex]

. I could put on one of the Civil War costumes they have in the costume closet.

If that is a uniform then wear it and do the best you can getting the other items you need within the museum's budget.

 

[major bill]

If that is a uniform then wear it and do the best you can getting the other items you need within the museum's budget.

They have three or four Civil War uniforms in the costume closet. The Hospital steward costume is fine because the cap fits. None of the other Civil War caps or hats fit me. The costume closet could also use some Civil War shirts.

At the Michigan History Museum volunteers are paid, while docents are not paid because we are doncent guild members and technically do not work for the Museum. Volunteers usually do not wear costumes but give tours. Docents can volunteer to do tours, but often give demonstrations or interrupt artifacts.

One issue of wearing a Civil War costume is I might work the Civil War gallery for a hour, then another docent shows up and wants the Civil War gallery. My next couple hours I am wearing a Civil War costume while I work in the 1970s gallery discussing the Vietnam War and anti war movement. Some adults eyed my Civil War Hospital Steward costume in the 1970s gallery. I did have a fourth grader ask if I was a bus driver.

 

[bdtex]

They have three or four Civil War uniforms in the costume closet. The Hospital steward costume is fine because the cap fits. None of the other Civil War caps or hats fit me. The costume closet could also use some Civil War shirts.

At the Michigan History Museum volunteers are paid, while docents are not paid because we are doncent guild members and technically do not work for the Museum. Volunteers usually do not wear costumes but give tours. Docents can volunteer to do tours, but often give demonstrations or interrupt artifacts.

One issue of wearing a Civil War costume is I might work the Civil War gallery for a hour, then another docent shows up and wants the Civil War gallery. My next couple hours I am wearing a Civil War costume while I work in the 1970s gallery discussing the Vietnam War and anti war movement. Some adults eyed my Civil War Hospital Steward costume in the 1970s gallery. I did have a fourth grader ask if I was a bus driver.

Sounds like the member of the costume committee is trying to get you to commit to being between a rock and a hard place.

 

[major bill]

Sounds like the member of the costume committee is trying to get you to commit to being between a rock and a hard place.

The positive side is, as a docent, unless I volunteered to lead a class on a tour, I have no schedule, I come and go as I please, I have no assigned gallery, I can wear a costume or not.

The down side was four months formal training (only a couple days per week) and a year as a docent intern under a docent guild member (four hours per week minimum), pass a test, get voted in to the guild, and presto I am a docent. Easy as pie. Oh, also no pay!

 

[7thWisconsin]

Is it a costume or a uniform that you are wanting to wear? There is a difference.....When I reenact, I do not wear a costume, as I have too much respect for the person and time period that I am representing.

I think in this case, the term ¨costume¨ is appropriate. It´s not part of the museum exhibit, need only be surface accurate and is evocative of the time and place. ¨Costume¨ has been a problematic word for reenactors since the beginning. My grandmother wanted to call the clothing she was sewing for me a ¨costume¨ and I kept correcting her. Then again, I was 16. However, I would argue that the word ¨costume¨ is also appropriate for reenacting clothing too, albeit the goal is ¨historically accurate costume.¨ Cambridge dictionary offers the first definition as ¨a set of clothes typical of a particular country or period of history.¨

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

I think in this case, the term ¨costume¨ is appropriate. It´s not part of the museum exhibit, need only be surface accurate and is evocative of the time and place. ¨Costume¨ has been a problematic word for reenactors since the beginning. My grandmother wanted to call the clothing she was sewing for me a ¨costume¨ and I kept correcting her. Then again, I was 16. However, I would argue that the word ¨costume¨ is also appropriate for reenacting clothing too, albeit the goal is ¨historically accurate costume.¨ Cambridge dictionary offers the first definition as ¨a set of clothes typical of a particular country or period of history.¨

I mean when you think about it, in a lot of cases reenactors follow scripts, perform vignettes, stay "in character," etc. Just saying.

 

[RyanQ1864]

I have worked in public history for over a decade now, at small museums and national battlefields, and have trained and supervised other docents and guides. In my humble opinion, I would not wear the costume/uniform. You want to be as approachable and informative as possible. As you say, you move about the galleries, and as soon as you leave the Civil War gallery, you've removed the context of the clothing you're wearing. By wearing a standard non-time period uniform (a nice collared shirt, or a polo, etc) you can have the freedom to move from gallery to gallery, and can help facilitate visitors. Wearing a hodgepodge of clothing, mixing historic and non-historic articles of clothing will, in my opinion, confuse visitors and runs the risk of looking kind of silly/unprofessional.

 

[major bill]

So if I got up a anti Vietnam War demonstrator 'uniform', consisting of bell- bottom jean's, a tie dyed t-shirt, and sandals, I would be fine in the 1970s gallery but look silly when I worked the afternoon in the War of 1812 gallery or Civil War gallery?

 

[RyanQ1864]

So if I got up a anti Vietnam War demonstrator 'uniform', consisting of bell- bottom jean's, a tie dyed t-shirt, and sandals, I would be fine in the 1970s gallery but look silly when I worked the afternoon in the War of 1812 gallery or Civil War gallery?

In my opinion, yes. If I was your supervisor at a museum like that, I would probably tell you to get changed before heading to a different gallery. The public bring certain expectations with them to museums and historic sites. Think, let's say about Colonial Williamsburg. If you go expecting to see George Washington and instead a World War One Dough Boy sprints down the street, you'd probably turn your head and wondering what's going on.

 

[major bill]

Which brings us back to wearing a Civil War uniform at the Museum. I am more or less stuck in the Civil War gallery. If a visitor asks a question about the American Revolution musket, would it be acceptable to walk in to the American Revolution area and discuss a flintlock while wearing a Civil War uniform?

If a hippy uniform looks silly in the War of 1812 gallery, then wearing a War of 1812 uniform in the 2970s gallery is equally silly looking.

Some days we only have one or two docents on the floor and several school groups going through the Museum all at once, so I have to move from gallery to gallery to talk about what ever the teacher wants emphasized. By the way, the Civil War is not a major part of the State education standards so while many students like to look at the Civil War swords and muskets, most docents try to reinforce the education standards for 4th and 5th grade students ie. Move the students to Statehood gallery and not spend time in Civil War gallery.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Being a docent at the Michigan History Museum I have the option to dress in a period costume or not. I rarely wear a costume. Today a member of the costume committee encouraged me to wear a period costume once in a while, when school field trips start up in a couple of weeks. I could put on one of the Civil War costumes they have in the costume closet. I could buy a Civil War costume, but I am cheap. The costume committee does have some funds to use up before the end of the budget year. So here are the Civil War caps that are in size 7 1/2. Not sure about them. Not much to choose from, the Museum does have a hospital stewart jacket and trousers.
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I want something comfortable and easy to wear. Perhaps the Museum would buy me a set of World War Two, naval dungeries.

Well you want to be a descent docent. Is not the forage cap a medical service cover? Does it got with the hospital stewards uniform?

 

[major bill]

Well you want to be a descent docent. Is not the forage cap a medical service cover? Does it got with the hospital stewards uniform?

Yes, a fock coat and the proper trousers. I can wear a pair of black lace up shoes and look fairly good.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Yes, a fock coat and the proper trousers. I can wear a pair of black lace up shoes and look fairly good.

I would choose a position as steward that puts me in charge of the Medicinal Whiskey. For authenticity sake. Always good to have spirits handy in the case of emergency.
Cheers!