Between the nation’s bicentennial and her local, annual, celebration of Pioneer Days, Marie grew up with a love of period clothing. Add to that a voracious appetite for the works of Austen, Dickens, Hawthorne, and Wharton through early adolescence, and the recipe for a living historian was almost complete. Her continued education in Journalism and Psychology proved not nearly as valuable to her future interests as did her experiences and employment in the University’s Drama Dept. as a costumer, where she researched, designed, and created period costumes. While the formal education she received was greatly appreciated, it was the time spent creating period works of fashionable art that claimed the greatest lasting benefit.
Married at 20, she had a part in raising seven girls. The youngest of which still boasts “Barbie” status; informing all who will listen that “Mom had us to dress us up!” There may be some truth in that! A relative newcomer to reenacting and living history, Marie has spent the last five years improving and encouraging authenticity in the hobby. For the past four years she served as civilian coordinator for Idaho Civil War Volunteers, and actively wrote for the Citizen’s Companion. In a continue effort to encourage authenticity, Marie and dear friend Mandy Kallal created the Homefront Herald, a magazine by reenactors for reenactors. |