Local Residents Attend Arkansas Living History Association Conference in Oklahoma

Five local people went to a conference recently in Oklahoma and this is the report from Sheila Ballard:

The Arkansas Living History Association held their annual conference on the first weekend of March. Founded in 2007, the association is dedicated to the advancement of living history as a form of interpretation, the encouragement of interaction and cooperation between individuals and institutions engaged in living history, the promotion of professional standards among living historians and at living history sites, and the development of public support for and interest in living history in Arkansas. Over the past 18 years since this organization’s membership has expanded to include living history enthusiasts from Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. This year’s conference was held and hosted in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Attendees heard from professionals in the field of interpretation and toured the Cherokee Nation Historical sites in Tahlequah.

Ballard is the communications director of the organization and attended the conference. Josh Williams, Theresa Neely and May Dyer from Historic Washington State Park were there as well as was Jamie Simmons director of the Nevada County Depot Museum.

Last year the conference was in Washington and next year it will be in Little Rock. The interest in the organization is growing with people from nearby states joining.