SW0134 Craftsman Explains How to Attire a Seminole Reenactor with One Simple Handbook

Seminole Wars Authority

When you see someone portraying a Seminole in a battle reenactment today, you can pretty much rest assured that the attire is authentic if not original. This was not the case 30 and 40 years ago. Many had good intentions but simply got the clothing wrong. Enter Seminole reenactor Rick Obermeyer. He took both an interest and launched a campaign to portray 19th century Seminole Men’s Clothing as accurately as feasible. He published selections from the top craftsman in the field for such items in 1991. It has served as handbook for Seminole reenactors ever since. Although Rick had no special academic training for the task, he did have a passionate desire to portray Seminole warriors as they presented themselves back then. Listen now as he details just how he assembled that knowledge into a simple manual of instruction.

Getting Seminole plumes and feathers right was possible because the Army acquired specimens not long after the Dade Battle. Photos courtesy Rick Obermeyer.

Although the handbook is hard to find and even then re-selling for $150 in paper copy form, the good people at Nativetech.com took Rick's book and published it in whole on line! See below.

Host Patrick Swan is a board member with the Seminole Wars Foundation. This podcast is recorded at the homestead of the Seminole Wars Foundation in Bushnell, Fla.

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