But cottage crofts are gay with hollyhocks,
And in old garden walks you breathe an air
Fragrant of pinks and August-smelling stocks.
-- John Todhunter (1839-1916)
Contributed by John Mount
To: mlshanks@ix.netcom.com
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 12:05 PM
Subject: ACW Reenactor
Dear Civil War Reenactor:
Hello again, my name is Mark L. Shanks and I am a Ph.D. student in public history at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Several years ago, you participated in my dissertation research examining the ways historical reenactors interpret history, and looking at the similarities anddifferences between reenactor's interpretations and those of academic
historians.
The purpose of this e-mail is to request your further participation in a follow-up survey that looks to examine change within the hobby, and focuses on one specific question in civil war history (the origins of the war)which both reenactors and academics address. I would be very much in your debt if you could take a few minutes of your time to fill out my
web-based survey at:
http://www.geocities.com/living-history/reenact_2.htm.
Your answers will help to form a broad examination of the ideas, issues, backgrounds, and basis of historical reenactment. A very similar survey has been sent to academics interested in, working with, teaching about, orwriting on the subject of the American Civil War; which will provide the basis for a detailed comparison of these two groups of people.
Thank you for your assistance in this endeavor,
Mark L. Shanks
UCSB, Dept. of History
mlshanks@ix.netcom.com
"Clio Eternum, Vita Brevis"
PS: If you would care to further assist me in this endeavor, please feel free to forward this message to fellow reenactors who might be interested in participating.
