People who do the kind of work that I do–“becoming” Susan B. Anthony for a presentation of some kind–are sometimes referred to as “reenactors.” We much prefer to be called “first-person historical interpreters,” or just plain “interpreters” for short. What’s the difference? Reenactors are generally the folks who meticulously recreate historical conditions of the personae they create. Think of the people who restage famous historical battles in full costume and weaponry. They sometimes have encampments where cooking is done over open fires as it would have been done in the period they are recreating, and some even eschew modern conveniences for the duration of their events. They are well-versed in the use of historical implements of various kinds and they usually know tons of information about the battles, customs, culture, and related history of their chosen era. Sometimes they will take on the identity of a person from the times, real or imagined. I have tremendous respect for the people who do this and their research and knowledge are typically unimpeachable. But these people are hobbyists; they participate in these activities primarily for their own entertainment and the cameraderie it provides. When members of the public wander through their encampments, they are happy to answer questions and demonstrate their work, but they do it as contemporary people who are wearing historical clothing. Educating outsiders is something they happily do, but it is not necessarily their primary purpose.

Interpreters have a different agenda. We exist primarily to educate and entertain. When we take on our personae, we realize that we are speaking to contemporary listeners from whatever time period we happen to inhabit. We always aspire to stay “in character” and speak from our own era, but not to the detriment of a positive experience. We can take some license with our wording and behavior if it helps educate and engage our listeners. That’s why we’re “interpreters;” we interpret our lives and experiences in such a way as to bridge the gap between our era and yours. Our work is customized to the particular age and interests of the client. WE COME TO YOU instead of waiting for you to come to us.

I’d welcome any comments from reenactors, interpreters, or “impersonators,” as we are sometimes called. How do you define your work and what label do you prefer? Regardless of the label, we all do work that is off the beaten path and we are all eager to share our knowledge and talent with the greater world. Feel free to contact me if you would like information about how you can have Susan B. Anthony as a guest at your event. I also happen to know a great Marquis de Lafayette, so if that’s more up your alley, I’ll be happy to put you in touch.