Invited by a friend to meet her at Colonial Williamsburg Fri, the kids and I went down for the day, and we had a great visit! In addition to that, the day turned out to be primarily a costume research day in the historic area.  That was productive and a good thing, although I felt the usual historic magnetic tug to listen to Lafayette behind the Palace, but we didn't arrive until he was nearly done. He always has great stories prompted by guests who have great questions which I never would have thought to ask.  We never can plan ahead of time to see any specific Founding Father, because the schedule on the web site merely says that "a Founding Father" will be speaking, but we never know which one.  Later in the day I felt another tug for the kids to have the opportunity to meet with Thomas Jefferson at the Tucker House.  We have yet to have an opportunity to meet any historic figure at the Tucker House, which we've been told is extra special. We're not sure if we need to come prepared with lots of questions for that or not, so we are trying to fill our colonial book for one of these special occasions. Well, I managed to restrain myself from history and focus on some of the things the kids wanted to find in relation to their costumes. Originially unplanned, it is funny how things fell into place for our costume research day.

    As we were preparing to leave the house that morning, my son announced he wanted to use some of his birthday money to buy a Lafayette hat at CW. I didn't realize they sold them.  It wouldn't come with the cockade or plume, but it has a different triangular shape from the usual tricorn.  Suddenly my son has this compulsion for his costume to look as accurate as possible. I knew he was a fan of the actor who portrays him, but I was sensing that something deeper was going on. Each year I ask him who his favorite historical figure is, but he is always non-commital.  After the announcement about the hat, I asked again if he had a favorite historical figure. He said Lafayette. The night before we were researching Lafayette's life for a report he is working on.  He said he was still supporting the troops at CW, but he wants every detail of his costume to be as historically accurate as possible. He wants the Lafayette costume for the cold days to keep warm and the gentry outfit (without the coat) for the summer.  We still have quite a bit of research to do.

    When we arrived in the historic area, we went to the open air market and looked at their hats, but my son couldn't find the right one.   We decided to go to the Greenhow store next. On the way, we were stopped by a lady who approached my son, not only to look at his costume, but also to actually touch it, opening the coat to look at his vest, etc.  This was a first! She was extremely interested.  She asked him where he got the costume and he said that I made it.  She asked me where I got the pattern and I said there was no pattern.  I looked at vacation pictures of the actor who portrays Lafayette to assemble pieces to try to get the proper look.  She told me that her ten year old son was a huge Lafayette fan and he analyzes all the costumes and tells his mom how he'd like this or that.  In disbelief I told her my son was the same way.   We got to meet her son and daughters, all of whom were in costume. Her daughter's costumes were more accurate than my daughter's and I asked where she got the pattern. I think someone made the dresses for them.  We talked about all kinds of things about trying to make their costumes as accurate as possible. We were laughing and laughing at everything we had in common.  I felt as though she was my twin lost at birth.

     Eventually we moved on. My son couldn't find the Lafayette hat in the Greenhow Store either. While there he did some Christmas shopping for us, so I took my daughter to the milliner's across the street.  She wanted to buy a new hat. The old one looked like one of the horses had started eating it, then sat on it.  This time she wanted a style that was more accurate to what the interpreters wear.  This is getting contagious!  The cashier taught me how to properly set the hat, tie the bow and use the hat pins.

     Then we headed to Tarpley's Store to see if they had a Lafayette hat. On the way, we met Wil. He remembered the kids and they exchanged courtesies (bowed and curtsied). He even remembered their names. He said my daughter's name was Elizabeth. She said no, it was ___________ and he said that he would have said that next.  The same thing happened to my son. Then he talked about taking care of their father's horse at the stable down the road and their father was  named William. They said that was not his name but he insisted it was and proceeded to tell us everything about taking care of his horse. When we got home I told my husband I had learned quite a bit about him and the horse he never told me about at CW that day! Wil also told the kids about the Declaration of Independence that would be read that afternoon. He was quite excited about freedom. My son apologized and told him he wished it meant freedom for him, but it actually meant freedom from Great Britain, not freedom for the slaves.   Wil was sad to hear that. My daughter said something about it which I did not hear, but Wil was shocked that she knew about the politics of the day. He said her father must have taught her that. She said no, her mother did. At that, Wil looked at me in disbelief, then explained it away by saying my husband must have told me about it. I told him no, I actually told my husband about the Declaration of Independence. Well, he went on talking to the kids.  I cannot tell you how many times people in CW have told me that I must get all my information from my husband, since I'm not educated enough.  Everyone from the Founding Fathers to the gentry, middling class, slaves, women...none believe that I have read and studied about the events of their day and taught it to my kids (...including my husband who does not enjoy reading books. He prefers doing things to reading. However he does keep up with current events of 2009.). That is truely how it was in the 18th century. It was interesting that we had studied Women's Suffrage that week. I must admit I was not impacted by all the facts I learned since I am not an activist. I am a quiet, contemplative person by nature.  I like to read and learn and write and talk about the things I learn.  The problem is finding someone to talk about this stuff with. Right now I have a built in audience, since I homeschool my children.  I have a feeling that if I lived in the 18th century, I wouldn't be much different. I doubt that I would have been an activist then either, but I would have wanted to find books to read and learn from. I probably would not have had the opportunity. Although Abigail Adams was well read, that was rare for the time.  The 18th century viewpoint of women has finally sunk in to my brain.  I realize I don't know everything and I still have a lot to learn, yet it bothers me that I am expected to know nothing of a deep nature. This is the mindset of not only the men, but also the women in CW. Surely there was at least one women in 18th century Williamsburg who sought a deeper education than what society allowed for her. This mindset is tied up in the lack of the women's franchise (vote) in the era. I may not be an activitst, but I am a teacher. I love to teach and I love to learn. It has become a passion with me to teach history.  I strongly believe that because history repeats itself, as Patrick Henry keeps reminding us, a solid foundation in it can help us to vote wisely today.  Therefore when I am "in the 18th century", and I am told that I don't have an education, it probably hits a different nerve than it does most. Despite my feelings, I appreciate the actors at Colonial Williamsburg.  They bring the pages of history to life, so that we can feel what historical people felt. It helps us to understand our history better. It is one thing to read about it; it is another thing to experience it. Hmmmm.....    

     We proceeded on to Tarpleys and my son thought he had found the Lafayette hat.  However, he didn't purchase it yet, because he wasn't certain it was right. He wanted to see the actor who portrays Lafayette because he always wears this style hat. I had an idea to do a little research at the print shop. When we arrived, we met Mr. Greenhow who taught us how to sign our name with a quill. He writes our name first to model for us, then we write underneath. We get to keep the sample. Also if we buy a quill, he'll prepare it for us. He did this for my son when we met him last summer. He remarked on how my kids were left handed, causing a problem with smearing the ink. 

Lefties in the 18th century were taught to become right handed.

After this, we went to the Revolutionary City scene at the Courthouse then had lunch. After lunch and enjoying the lovely autumn colors we went back to the open air market to look for the black and white cockade that represents the French American alliance that will go on the Lafayette hat. None were to be found. We talked to the cashier for quite a bit about cockades and such and she sent us to the Greenhow store. In there we didn't find the right cockade. My son talked to the manager about the Lafayette hat. He told my son where he could have one specially made!  That's exactly what he did! My son found the lady and told her he wanted a Lafayette hat to be specially made. He showed the one type that was on the shelf, but told her it wasn't quite right. The lady was extremely patient to work with him and understood exactly what he wanted. She started the shaping in front of us, then took it to the back and told my son to come back in 30 minutes. She also gave him further directions to complete the look at home. They did not have the proper cockade either, but I purchased a black one. We can't quite remember what Lafayette's cockade looks like. My son remembered that General Washington's picture was on the front of the weekly schedule.  We quickly pulled that out to look at, but he was posing at the wrong angle. We couldn't see the cockade. Between the cockade I purchased and analyzing more pictures that we have at home, I'll try to make the right kind of cockade.    

     Meanwhile, I wanted to go to the milliner across the street to ask questions about how to sew my kids' costumes.  I asked about a shift for my daughter and they showed me this baby's shift. Well she's a lot taller than that. I learned that a shift is a shift and I could form ruffles for her by inserting a drawstring around the neck and wrists.

That's it? I showed them her somewhat fancy dress underneath her cloak and the milliner was ready to sell me lacing for around the neck and sleeve edges. Hmmm, I come in with 21st century questions and before long I find myself in the 18th century again. It is a lot of fun but it challenges me to translate all of that 18th century information into my 21st century sewing skills, sources and supplies. I was wondering what lace looked like back then and exactly how it is set in to the sleeves and neckline of the dress, but a school group came in for a tour. I turned my attention to this lady who was sewing a gorgeous pink gown, a reproduction from a painting in a book that she showed me.

Here is the stomacher. If I recall correctly, this will never be sewn into the bodice, but will be pinned with the bodice into the stays. Then as the fashions quickly change (up to six times a year) alterations can easily be accomodated.  

  There is some of the pink dress on the left, next to the gorgeous blue dress on the right.  The fabric of each is a lovely irridescent sheen. The sheen is created on the loom with one color thread going in one direction and another color in the other. As I recall, there is a sheen of blue in the pink dress and a sheen of pink in the blue dress.

While I was talking to the milliner, my son came back from picking up his hat. He proudly tugged on my coat to get my attention. I took one look at him and gasped. That does look like a Lafayette hat!

My son wanted a picture of them doing their courtesies...

 I had to shake my head all afternoon. The new hats definitely made them look more in character.  In fact, they are now fooling more guests. They are often mistaken for employees, but when the kids tell them they are only guests, the guests believe them, then ask directions from here to there anyway. Well earlier in the day, a couple stopped my daughter to ask her what the population of the town was during this historic time frame. My daughter was stuck! We did learn that I think in one of the EFTs, but we have forgotten. My daughter told the man she was only a guest and he didn't believe her!  I backed her up and told him my son might have a good answer.  He looked behind me, where my son was talking to a friend. The man asked if the two star general was my son. "Yes, and he has a quick mind," I told him. The man decided to test it.  "General," he asked, "what was the population of the town during this historic time period?" My son said, "It was less than the numbers you see in town today."  The man liked that answer! He walked away chuckling!

     By the kids' request, we ended the day with Revolutionary City. We noticed something new, with Benedict Arnold arriving in town with the British flag and handing it to his men to replace the American flag above the Capitol's cupola.  That is the first we've seen him hand over the flag.  It was quite effective.  On the ride home, my kids had many questions about RC and we had quite the discussion.  It is always interesting how we can tie in the history at CW into our current history studies.