When the Society for Creative Anachronism was founded in 1988 by Jody Kehoe, it was inspired by the importance of keeping history alive. And as a society devoted to understanding and preserving our history, they felt it vital to understand the people who are shaping our past. As the organization evolved, however, the emphasis of their effort became the preservation of history in the form of re-creating events from the past. They have recreated events such as the Great Northern Railroad’s centennial celebration in Winnipeg, Canada, which is open to the public, and many others, using items found in the local environment.
While one can’t force a person to recreate something, the idea is that a person would enjoy knowing that a historical event took place. The society was formed to encourage people to do just that, and they’re now focused on raising funds to further the work. Any donations made are put to use for educational and community events that allow the public to take part in remembering the past.
There are many aspects to the society, including an extensive website, which provides more information on the history and re-creations being done. A main site, which is an online museum with articles and video and photographs about the organization, also provides access to the financial resources they need to continue their efforts.
The resource box on the site provides information about the society, its history, membership, as well as interesting re-creations and other contributions they’ve made over the years. Their success is proof that history does not need to be frozen in time. People today have a knack for re-creating their own history, and in the process of doing so, they’ll benefit in many ways.
As the society continues to grow, they continue to take part in various celebrations and events that use the materials that were used to recreate events from the past. They’ll assist with planning all the fun activities, while also providing information on what the society is and what it’s interested in.
Their goal is to involve people in celebrating this season by having fun activities to look forward to. These include outings, concerts, theatrical productions, martial arts programs, and recreation trips. These events are designed to engage and excite people, and they do this in a very enjoyable way.
All of these will take place throughout the year, depending on the funding to be raised. As the society grows, and the knowledge about the society increases, they will be able to fund more special events, such as the exciting Life Beyond Life – All the Uses of Modern Medicine Symposium. That conference will take place in April, and it will feature speakers, musicians, speakers, as well as musical acts.