Both the Arkansas Living History Association and the Southeastern Association of Living History, Farms, and Agricultural Museums held conferences at Historic Washington State Park from Friday through Sunday (3-1 to 3-3). Their workshops covered creating a character, basic performance skills, research, event planning and other topics. On Friday there was a harness and driving workshop, one on dressmaking, others on hat making, theorem painting, and historic dances. There was an opening potluck and reception with a focus on traditional foods. This was followed by a portrayal of Mary Edwards Walker by Debra Conner. Conner has worked as a Chautauqua (first person portrayal in which the actor becomes the person being portrayed) performer since 1997.
A conference menu at lunch was offered at the Tavern for participants.
On Saturday the schedule included a speech by the keynote speaker Debra Conner in which she portrayed a lady who survived the sinking of the Titanic. Following were choices of a bus tour of the World War 2 Proving Grounds, sketching life workshop, a demonstration how to make silver spoons, and historical myth-busters workshop. In the afternoon was a tour of Prairie D’Ane Civil War Battlefield, a talk about William Leslie, and a tour of Washington with Dr. Carl Drexler showing different locations of town that have been studied through archaeology.
Other workshops were about candle-making and the historic signs of the town.
Saturday evening featured dinner, dancing, and a live auction.
Sunday’s workshop included beginning leather sewing, recreating a 200-year old newspaper, and a workshop on dressing for the heat.
About sixty people total attended the joint conferences.