The Living History Group
Current Projects
Current projects at this time include:
Military Heritage Corridor Book Project
We are currently writing a book for the National Park Service and the South Carolina Heritage Corridor entitled; The Military History of South Carolina: South Carolinian’s in Uniform 1670 to 2008. This publication will go into all of the military heritage corridor sites and other State and National Park Service book stores. We have teamed up with military artist Bob Graham of Charleston who will paint the uniform plates for the book as well. Look for the finished book available for purchase before the end of 2008.
From Slavery to Freedom & Beyond: The Magnolia Slave Cabin Project
We are currently doing in-depth research on the history of slavery and emancipation at Magnolia Plantation. Magnolia has a rich a long history dating back to the late 17th century. This research is a precursor to a large scale project in which four 1850’s slave houses and one free black Victorian era house will be restored. This project also includes in-depth exhibits on the topic as well as the development of educational programming on African-American history. Once the final strategic plan for this project has been approved, archaeological testing, restoration and exhibit work will commence. The project is slated for completion in January of 2009 with the grand opening on February 1, 2009. (click here for a detailed description of the project)
Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum
We have been contracted by Patriot’s Point to organize and run their World War II educational living history weekends for 2008. We are creating educational programs for these events that will highlight the men that served on both the WWII Destroyer USS Laffey and the submarine USS Clamagore. The dates for these public educational programs are; USS Clamagore Living History- May 31st; USS Laffey Living Histories – August 9th & November 8th.
Museum of the Upcountry
We have been working with Michael Schaffer Productions as well as Christopher Chadbourne & Associates, Inc. (http://www.ccadesign.com/) regarding exhibits for the Museum of the Upcountry in Greenville , South Carolina . With C.C.A. we acted as historical consultants in helping them put together period correct clothing for displays ranging from a 1770 Indian trader to an 1850s drover as well as where they can find the correct clothing and equipment.
We then worked with Michael Schaffer productions out of Boston in filming an 18th century piece for the museum revolving around a woman telling the story of the Upcountry as seen through her eyes. She had to age from her early 30s in the 1760s to her late 70s by 1810. We put together the shooting locations, production crew, the make-up artist, costuming, casting the actress, and then acted as historical consultants, production manager, and assistant director for the actual shoot, which took place at Fort King George in Darien , Georgia . We will be continuing this project in putting together another shoot where we will recreate aspects of the Battle of King’s Mountain later this Spring.
South Carolina Heritage Corridor
We are currently working with the South Carolina Heritage Corridor as historical consultants regarding wayside signage in the corridor. Our first project was to research and photograph authentic living historians portraying representations of soldiers that fought in the Revolutionary War battle of Eutaw Springs in 1781. We choose to photograph a Patriot Militia man, a British soldier of the 64th Regiment of Foot, and finally, an American regular soldier of the Maryland Line. These images will go on the wayside signage in helping describe the battle and bring realistic visuals to life for visitors.
World War II Documentary on Kamikaze Attacks in the Pacific
We were recently the historical technical advisors for a documentary film on Kamikaze attacks on the Pacific theater during World War II. We also provided the U.S. Navy uniforms, equipment, and actors/reenactors for the film as well. Our segment of the film was shot at Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum in Charleston, SC on the U.S.S. Yorktown and the U.S.S. Laffey. Both ships are also featured in the film, most prominently the U.S.S. Laffey as she was hit by seven kamikaze planes and refused to sink. The film was produced by Darlow-Smithson Productions, a London based company. It is due to air on BBC 4 and then this Spring on the new Smithsonian Network which launches at the beginning of 2007. Click here for more photographs from the production featuring our actors, uniforms, and equipment.
<click here to see more PHOTOS from the shoot!>
World War II B-24 Bomber Pilot Book Project
We are compiling oral histories with diaries, mission reports, and photographs detailing the wartime experiences of B-24 pilot Oscar Fitzhenry. Mr. Fitzhenry flew more than 50 combat missions in the Pacific theater as part of the "cactus air force" on Guadalcanal and other pacific locations performing bombing runs on targets such as Truk. The title of the book is Flying into Harms Way: The Wartime Experiences of Captain Oscar Fitzhenry. Once completed, the finished project will be privately published for his family.
Historical Technical Advisors for Music Video Shoot
We were recently hired as the historical technical advisors for a music video shoot up in Greenville, SC. The band is called "Civil Twilight" and they are all originally from South Africa. It is their first music video and it is for their song "Soldier." You can listen to it at their myspace page located on MySpace.
The Director of Photography was Maz Makhani (www.mazmakhani.com). He has directed a large number of high profile music videos for artists such as 50 Cent, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Black-Eyes Peas. The video was actually shot on 35mm film and produced by Jeremy Stanley. It has a World War II theme with a World War II American veteran coming home to his farm and then having flashbacks. We put together the German soldiers, their look, and the camp scenes and worked with the American soldiers as well. (You can view more images from the shoot by clicking here)
Historical Technical Advisors for the feature film “Liberty!”
For the past year we have acted as the historical technical advisors for the feature film “Liberty!” This has included costume recommendations, finding living historians, and historically accurate locations. I have also come on board as an associate producer for the film as well. This is an independent feature film that takes place during the American Revolution in South Carolina and follows the life of Captain Henry Felder, a patriot leader of militia. It was a real challenge to try and keep the film looking historically accurate on a low budget. The film is being produced by the Actors Theater of South Carolina. Please visit the film's web site and view the trailer at www.libertythefilm.com.
Medal of Honor Museum
We recently assisted in putting together an honor guard for the grand opening of the new National Medal of Honor Museum located on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum in Charleston, SC. The honor guard for the 42 attending Medal of Honor recipients was made up of five men representing each branch of service as well as different time periods. Beginning from left to right in the photo we have representing the U.S. Army a Civil War infantry soldier. Representing the United States Marine Corps is a Marine dressed from the Banana Wars time period in the 1920s. Representing the U.S. Coast Guard is a World War II Coastguardsman (the only time a U.S. Coast Guard sailor was awarded the Medal of Honor was during World War II). Representing the U.S. Air Force is a pilot from the Korean War era. Finally, representing the U.S. Navy is a corpsman from the Vietnam War. It was truly an honor and a privilege to stand post and salute each of those Medal of Honor recipients as they arrived. The oldest recipient present was John Finn who is 98 years old and was awarded his Medal of Honor for his actions at Pearl Harbor in 1941
National Veteran’s Day Organization
We are assisting the National Veteran’s Day organization in planning a four day series of events to honor veterans in the Charleston area this coming November during Veteran’s Day weekend. We are assisting in creating both the educational programs for the school children during this time as well as providing the living historians from various time periods (World War II through Vietnam) for programs that weekend at Patriot’s Point Maritime Museum as well as the Veteran’s Day parade. For more information, you can go to their web site located at http://www.nationalveteransdaycelebration.org/
South Carolina Department of Education
Educational Web, a subsidiary of The Living History Group, has been contracted by the Social Studies Department of the South Carolina Department of Education to build an interactive web site that allows teachers to view any county in the state and see what museums and historic sites offer educational programming and how to contact them. We built the current Social Studies Standards web site for the SC Department of Education as well.
BBC Program "Blue Peter" Historical Coordinator
One of the longest running children's television shows in England, "Blue Peter" (www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/) came to the U.S. recently to film a few episodes. One of which was on the American Civil War. We provided the living historians, much of the hosts own outfits, and historical consulting on the episode. It was an interesting shoot.
www.MagnoliaPlantation.com
The Living History Group with Educational-web.com was contracted to create an updated website for Magnolia Plantation. The new website features many great photographs of the gardens, local wildlife and buildings. There are articles on the history of Magnolia Plantation as well as information about events, programs and opportunities for you to enjoy.
