Maeve Kane, Department of History and Public History Program, University at Albany
Encounters with reenactors and living historians are one of the main ways most Americans engage with the past after leaving school. As we near the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, I’m interested in how and why reenactors and living historians invest in the past financially, materially, and emotionally, and how the past matters now. My book will be one part a brief history of hobby reenacting since the 1976 bicentennial of the Revolution and one part discussion of what early American history means in the present for different groups. I’m especially interested in the ways people think about historical authenticity; tribal sovereignty and nationhood; civilian portrayals; women, children, and families in the hobby; the experiences of reenactors of color; and hobby reenacting as a path into and parallel to academic and paid public history work. Contact me at [email protected] if you’d like to talk about your experience as a reenactor or have me attend an event with your unit.