Purpose:
The Forkless Brigade is established as a volunteer living history group. We are composed of women, men and children from the Southeastern United States with a strong passion for accurate and authentic living history and reenactment events. We coordinate and host first-person, authentic living histories in North Carolina, not to exceed 6 per annum. We also plan and work together to attend immersion and hard-core reenactments around the United States. We openly share research, help each other learn new skills, and encourage individual growth as dedicated historians.
What we are not:
We are not a mainstream reenacting group. We do not attend big battle events or other large-scale events generally referred to as “mainstream”. Members are welcome to belong to other reenacting groups, or attend those types of event independently. We do, however, request a certain level of priority be paid to the immersion and hard-core living histories that the group runs and attends.
Bylaws:
1)Any person, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. will be considered for membership.
- The only reason a person will be denied membership, is for a lack of dedication to historical research and/or not presenting an accurate impression.
- If a member, or prospective member, is deemed unsafe to be around, they will be asked to leave the group. Such instances include but are not limited to: If the member practices hate-speech or otherwise behaves hostile towards other members or anyone in society; if a member takes on hostile attitudes towards anyone due to their race, religion, gender, or other lifestyle factors; if a member has committed a felony or broken the law and other members no longer feel safe around this individual.
2)Members are not required to pay dues, and there will be no jointly held property by the group.
3)Officers of the group will consist of one President and one Vice-President. Addition of further officers will be created by unanimous vote of the entire membership, and will only be considered if there is a need for further officers.
4)Officers are not voted upon by a general election, but will be decided upon by a select group of senior members.
5)All members are required to participate in event planning, researching, and sharing of new ideas.
6)All members are required to attend at least 1 function with the group each year. Special arrangements can be made for a longer leave of absence, if discussed with the President and Vice-President.
- Failure to participate can result in your removal from the group.
7)New members will be taken in limited numbers each year. Every new member will be assigned a mentor. When that mentor feels you are up to snuff, you will become a full member. One year minimum of new member status is required for anyone new to reenacting to become a full member.
Authenticity Guidelines
1)Period eyeglasses are required. Modern eye glasses are not acceptable, and many of our events will not afford the opportunity to use contacts.
2)Absolutely no modern smoking.
3)Absolutely no coolers or modern cooking equipment.
4)No solid colored cottons.
Women:
1) You must wear period-correct underpinnings. Modern underwear is not allowed. That means, if you choose not to wear a corset, you choose not to wear any sort of bust support.
2) You must wear a bonnet when you are outdoors, beyond the confines of your lodgings for the event.
3) Dresses should be constructed of one fabric; either wool, silk or cotton depending on style of dress.
4) No white blouse and skirt combinations will be allowed. This is not the same as a high-fashion white bodice worn with a silk or wool skirt.
5) A collar or neckerchief should be worn at all times.
6) Sutler “snoods” should never been worn. Hair should be center parted and confined at the neckline.
7) Low bodices and short sleeves are reserved for upper class evening wear only.
8) You should not be seen outside of your house in your underwear.
9) High Fashion will not be portrayed unless you can fully accessorize.
Children:
1) All small children, at least until age 2-3, should be dressed in dresses, regardless of gender.
2) Girls’ hair should be parted in the center, and usually cropped to chin length, or braided in one or two braids if longer. Boys hair should be parted on the side.
3) Skirt hems should be of appropriate length for the age of the wearer. Children will not wear adult-length clothing.
4) Girls dresses should be constructed of one fabric, and in silk, wool or cotton, with short or long sleeves.
5) Girls and boys should wear a bonnet or hat on their head when outside.
Men:
1) Don’t be farbs.
2) Modern underwear is not allowed. That means if you choose not to wear drawers, you choose not to wear anything between you and your trousers.