Minute Man Living History Association

Royal Artillery at Battle Road 250

NPS/ C Gould

What is the Minute Man Living History Association?

At Minute Man we are very proud to support a robust corps of volunteer living historians. With such a dedicated community, we take great care in running an authentic, ethical, and meaningful living history program. The Minute Man Living History Association focuses on high quality interpretation and rewarding experiences for our community. Our goal is to establish a corps of volunteers to reguarily assist in Minute Man programming and at other National Park Service sites across the region. As a member of this association you can expect all sorts of resources to help build impressions and interpretive skills both inside Minute Man NHP and elsewhere.

 

 

---

Impressions

The association focuses our impressions on those relevant to New England between 1774 and 1778. This focus allows us to field larger battalions of like-minded and outfitted volunteers at park events. As per normal we will continue hosting special clothing workshops and sewing days to create or improve impressions.

We are looking for various civilian, military, and other special impression. Please see our authenticity standards page for specifics.

---

Civilian Impressions

• New England Civilian 1774-1778

• New England Civilians 1778-1783

• Army Camp Followers (British & Provincial)

 

Militia at Battle Road

NPS/ C Gould

---

Military Impressions

Provincial Forces

• Massachusetts Militia 1774- 1778

• Provincial Artillery 1774- 1778

British Forces

• British Regulars (What you all have and what we need for specific events)

• Royal Artillery 1768-1776

Minute Men of 1861

• 5th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 1860-1861

• 6th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 1860-1861

• Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865

 

Officers will be selected based on experience and event circumstance. We really want this organization to serve as a place where everyone gets a chance to learn and grow their skills, while also having fun and looking damn good in the process.

Our goal is to build the Minute Man Living History Association into a shining example of high-quality 18th century living history interpretation.

---

How much of a commitment is this?

Members of the Minute Man Living History Association will be expected to participate in at least ONE living history event at the park per year. If you are issued clothing from the park, we will require a greater time commitment since we only have a limited supply of gear and lots of interest.

We will typically host max effort events during the Spring, Summer, and Fall of each year. We will also be hosting numerous other events and opportunities throughout the year, as per normal.

 

British Regulars at Battle Road

NPS/ C Gould

To become a member of the Minute Man Living History Association please read these documents below and fill out this application form (as an individual).

All members are required to read our guidelines, sign a volunteer agreement, and submit photos. All impressions will be vetted for utmost historical accuracy, with the goal of having all impressions fit within the “exceeds standard” category as defined in the Minute Man NHP (Battle Road) Authenticity Standards.

 

Click to expand

Code of Ethics

At Minute Man National Historical Park we are proud to support a robust corps of volunteer living historians. With such a dedicated community, we take great care in running an authentic, ethical, and meaningful living history program. All living history volunteers will be expected to adhere to this set of ethics while on duty in Minute Man National Historical Park, or at events hosted by Minute Man National Historical Park.  

• Exercise Good Ethics. Volunteers will place ethical principles above private gain as public service is a public trust.   

• Make Good Effort. Volunteers will put forth an honest effort in performance of their duties.   

• Take Care of Equipment. Volunteers will protect and conserve federal property and not use it for other than authorized activities.   

• Be Non-Partisan. Volunteers will not engage in partisan political activity, solicit or receive political contributions while on duty or in the Federal workplace. Volunteers will not use their status as a volunteer to give the impression that the NPS supports certain partisan political activities. (See RM-7: Chapter 4)   

• Respect Other People. Volunteers will work respectfully with others. Hate Speech  (Abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice) or discrimination on basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, and military service. or similar grounds) and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. (See RM-7: Chapter 6)  

• Professional Behavior. Volunteers will exercise professional and courteous behavior to other volunteers, visitors to the park, park partners, and National Park Service staff at all times. Volunteers will not use their role to publicly disparage or bring into disrepute Minute Man National Historical Park.   

• Non-Public Access. Volunteers will not use non-public access to NPS staff, information, or resources for discussion with outside entities and/or for private gain.   

• Refrain From Advocacy (while representing themselves as an NPS volunteers). Volunteers will not use their position to leverage any type of influence or gain.   

• Volunteers will not simulate combat (Opposing lines of fire, etc.) at Minute Man National Historical Park. The National Park Service does not permit battle reenactments or elements of simulated combat in areas administered by the NPS. Such activities are inconsistent with the memorial qualities of the historic battlefields under our care.  

• Weapons Safety. Volunteers will adhere to rules and regulations governing the safe use of historic weapons in National Park Service sites.  

• Volunteers will not consume alcoholic beverages or engage in gambling of any form while at Minute Man National Historical Park.  

• Volunteers will not engage in any activity prohibited by law or NPS regulations  

For more information see Director’s Order 7 and Reference Manual 7 - Volunteer With Us (U.S. National Park Service)  

Violation of this code of conduct may result in corrective action or termination of the volunteer. 

Historic Weapons Policy

Carrying Historic Black Powder Weapons in the Park

Only those individuals or units that are signed up as volunteers at Minute Man National Historical Park may carry historic black powder weapons in the park as part of their approved and scheduled volunteer activity, as outlined in their volunteer agreement form.

Before a weapon can be carried in the park it must pass an inspection by a certified NPS black powder safety officer. This must be done at the start of each day as you report for volunteer duty. This applies to firing as well as non-firing activities.

Weapon Safety and the Public

To ensure the safety of participants and visitors, the following is expected of each and every participant:

• All weapons will remain under physical control of its owner at all times or secured in a locked vehicle.
• Visitors are not allowed to handle or touch a loaded weapon.
• DO NOT HAND YOUR WEAPON TO VISITORS.
• Visitors may touch an unloaded weapon so long as the owner maintains physical control of it.
• Participants under the age of 16 may not handle weapons (firearms or edged weapons) or powder.
• NEVER point your weapon (firearm or edged weapon) at anyone at anytime.

All volunteers handeling historic weapons will be provided with a copy of REFERENCE MANUAL 6 :STANDARDS FOR HISTORIC WEAPONS FIRING IN AREAS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

All volunteers using historic weapons will be provided with a copy of the National Park Service Manual for 18th centery or 19th century weapons. 


For more information, please email the park's Historic Weapons Program Coordinator.

 

Laurie Semple McCarthy

Link to online application form!


https://forms.office.com/g/Pyc2KyZyAW

(You will be able to edit your responses to this survey. It will allow us to keep a running registration and line of communication).

Volunteer agreements and photo submissions will be requested after the submission of this form.

---

Thank you for your willingness to share your skills with us. Each and every one of our volunteers plays a role in growing this operation. We’re excited for the future and to see what we can build together.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!