Civilian Roles

Where to start

Remember that it takes about a year to get your gear together, so take your time, do the research first and get good stuff. That is the best way to save time and money.

The first question to answer is: Who are you portraying? Are you the wife of a common soldier? A nurse? A wealthy woman visiting the camp officers? Different civilian roles call for different clothing. So where do you start?

The best way is to get a simple everyday dress and develop your role as you do more research. The basic items are: a cotton dress, a hoop skirt, boots or shoes, a bonnet or hat, and a shawl or other wrap.

Underpinnings can be added later for a more period correct look.

If you can sew, or have someone who can sew for you, you will save alot of money!

If you are not someone who sews, plan to spend up to $1000.00 in the next year to get the entire look.

1860's Interactive Clothing

Tips

Know Your Role

Five Tips for selecting and researching a beginning civilian role

Tip No. 1 Find a Mentor

This is an easy way to learn the ropes until you decide which direction you want to take.

Tip No. 2 Keep It Simple and Straight Forward

Before you spend tons of money on clothing and gear, go to a couple of events in a simple role. Test the waters as it were, by portraying a general role such as farm wife. Be a maid or servant to someone with an established role and learn by watching.

Tip No. 3 Portray What You Know

If you have a skill you enjoy and would like to share with others, check out its history in connection to the Civil War. This tip applies to everything from blacksmithing to quilting.

Tip No. 4 Do Lots of Research

The more background information you have on the character you portray, the more realistic and three-dimensional you will become in your role.

Tip No. 5 Read About Social History

Learn some of the social background of the mid Victorian era.

From Fanny and Vera's Website Fanny and Vera

Ideas for Civilian Living History

The Home Front

Wives and Mothers, Sweethearts and Sisters
This was the role of most women in the 1860's, although this would not preclude you from doing any of the other roles. Remember, Harriet Beecher Stowe was a wife, mother, sister and daughter as well as a best selling author.

The Farmers Wife In addition to all of the above, a farm wife could bring baskets of vegetables for sale. She could take baskets of produce, eggs and butter to the camps or camp cooks, selling them to support her family. This would be a good role if you have, or know someone with a large garden. Preparing food is always interesting. People respond well when they see you cutting up vegetables and making stew. Someone may like to try baking bread or biscuits.

Town Women can include: post mistress, news paper editor, shop keepers, factory worker, public speaker on social issues and reform, laundress, seamstress, abolitionist, slave, escaped slave, freeman, Southern refugee, feminist, actress, chanteuse, phrenologist, town gossip, busybody, local character, grieving widows, society matron, social belle or ladies of the upper classes exhibiting their skills in watercolors or fine needlework.

The following civilian roles can be portrayed by women

Charity Organizations
Women's Central Association of Relief , Relief societies specific to a state or ethnic group,
U.S.Christian Commission , US Sanitary Commission , Ladies Loyalty League, Soldier's Aid Society

Religious
Religion was a very important part of life in the 1860’s. Quaker and other pacifist, Bible Tract Society Member, Nun like the Sisters of Charity (who could also be nurses)

Military
Hospital matron, Nurse , spy , Daughter of the Regiment, cook, laundress, soldier in disguise , telegrapher .

Political
Anti war activist, copperhead, democrat, agitator, Southern sympathizer, feminist, abolitionist.

Quote from Fanny and Vera's Fanny and Vera's

Putting It Together

There are several things to consider when getting your costume together.....

Eyeglasses. If you wear eyeglasses, you will need to purchase period frames and have your prescription put in. Contacts may be an option although being around campfires and gunpowder can make it painful option. Modern eyewear does not go over well with veteran reenactors, and if you are at an historical site you may be asked to remove them.
No wrist watches.
Period shoes. The general style for period shoes is as follows, leather with square or round toes and low if any heels. Womens shoes could lace up the sides or have an elastic gusset on the side. They would rarely lace up the front. Avoid pointed toes and high heels; they are not correct.
Period eating utensils including cup, plate, knife, fork and spoon.
Period chair or seat.
Period tent and sleepwear if going to camp out. Note this will be in the civilian camp not in with the military to help maintain strict authenticity at events. Talking with a veteran camping reenactor can help you get this together.

Ten Common Myths about Women in the Civil War

Questions to Ask

YOUR NAME. If you have a period appropriate name, it might be easier to use your own. Or you could portray an ancestor from the period. Your name forms the basis of your identity. If you have a modern name, read through diaries or letters of the period and select one from there.
WHERE YOU ARE FROM. Are you from a rural community, a town or a city? This will strongly influence how you dress, talk and interact with others. Have you lived there all your life or a recent resident? Then do reading about the area to learn "facts about your home."
YOUR OCCUPATION. Read diaries and letters of the period to find an appropriate occupation for yourself and family members. Then you can research the occupation to portray it or discuss it with the public. Occupation does include being the Victorian Housewife. That is a fun and fascinating role to portray.
AGE. This will help you research what life events you remember. Know your birth year! An example, if you were born in 1832, you would remember the War with Mexico. it will also strongly influence how you dress and with whom you interact.
MARTIAL STATUS. Are you married, single or a widow? This influences how you dress and interact with others.
EDUCATION LEVEL. This will be influenced by your age and where you live. Can you read and write and if so how much. If you have some education, where did you receive it. How long was your education and what subjects did you study.
FAMILY MEMBER NAMES. This can be very important as these people may be involved in the war effort. Again use period approrpiate names. Be creative. You can make the family as large or small as you (or your family history allows) like!
POLITICS/BELIEFS: How do you feel about issues of the period, such as Abolition, the war, the President, womens sufferage, temperance movement, etc. Again, reading period diaries, letters, newspapers can help you form opinions and ideas. These are the basis for carrying on period conversation at events. It's a good idea to have some family member opinions also.
RELIGION. Church had a profound influence on the lives of the Victorians. Your choice of religion will influence your circle of acquaintances and also your feelings on period events such as abolition, etc.