Laundress Inpersonation

[dragon1976]

We have been reenacting for about a year now and my wife is thinking of doing a laundress inpersonation. I'd like to ask if anybody knows where she should start. I contacted the rangers at Fort Scott, and I've purchased the Book "Laundry and Cleaning Practices of the Mid-Nineteenth Century" By: Virginia Mescher.

We are in the Pittsburgh, PA area and part of the 63rd PVI.

Thanks again for your time. I saw a few post from a few years ago, so I figured I'd bring it up again.
Cory

[Spinster]

She's started in the right place. That book covers the subject matter well.

Now, the next choice. Will she be a laundress attached to a military unit and under Army pay and rations? If so, that impression gets limited quickly, once the army does away with laundresses on campaign. Winter quarters events, that impression can go later in the war.

Or, is she a woman doing her family laundry or taking in laundry from other civilians for pay?

That choice will determine what sort of clothing she collects to aid her interpretation.

In a typical weekend event, she'll be hard pressed to get anyone to give up something dirty enough to be washed, in a time frame for her to get it done on Saturday. In order to adhere to the norms of the period, she may not wash on Sunday (unless she is a Millerite or Jewish, both of which observe the day of rest and worship on Saturday

Even on a longer event, it's normally late in day three before somebody will show up with clothes to wash. There is nothing quite like washing during a winter quarters event and seeing everything freeze on the line.

So she will need to bring her own stuff to wash in most cases. Several sheets in period sizes, a stack of toweling, will fill out a sparse line, but she will need several shirts, drawers, trousers, one or two wash dresses, aprons, stockings, children's clothing, petticoats---well you get the idea

A useful item is a yoke and buckets to haul water from the water source.

In a typical weekend event, think carefully on whether to set this up, as it requires a lot of water to do properly. If there is a piped in water source, this impression is feasible. If the event is dependent on ag tanks for water supply, it's pretty inconsiderate to use up enough water for 10-20 people in order to set up this demo.

Think also on something to transport all this wet clothing home inside. By its very nature this is a gear heavy impression--if you manage to get it all in the back of a pickup truck, you are doing well. All those clothes will sour and mildew if not completely dry before you leave.

[lincolnsguard]

And, if an officer offers to pay her for her servcies, tell her to accept the payment.:0

couldn't resist.

[Spinster]

Giggle.

Eli, I was too new there to know the going rate.

You're so good looking in that fine uniform, the laundress's services were free.




And in that shady statement lies the trap in a laundress impression. Most often she is the wife of an NCO, and gains respectability and protection through that status.

Still, a military laundress whether married or single, had to be extremely careful of reputation and common societal propriety. She did not enter the military street without an escort, did not loiter about or visit. She did not eat with the men, though she did draw a ration. She could cook it herself, or take food from the common mess, just eaten apart from the men.

Due to the heavy work, and the isolation from the military street, this is an impression most happily done with at least 2-3 women.

She drew her pay in two ways. Enlisted men ran an account which was taken from their pay. She received those deductions in the course of a normal army pay call. Officers paid for laundry separately, at the point of delivery

And in my first appearance as a military laundress, I did not study well enough to know the going rate, or what to charge a certain tall dark officer.

[desotobob]

Eli - sent you a PM about Shiloh

[GrumpyDave]

And I responded, I think you have the wrong grumpy sum beeatch. I did appreciate the thought.

[Spinster]

Robert

You want Eli Geery. His username is either Plankmaker or Plankholder.

[dragon1976]

Mrs. Lawson,
Her plan was to be attached to our unit. Our civilian group is fairly weak, and she only plans to attend some of the smaller "local" events.

Where can we look for materials? I've seen oval copper boilers in nearly every antique store up here. How about wash tubs, boards and buckets? Will canvas buckets work?

As far as clothing, my son and I are both involved in reenacting, so with some spare clothing, we could keep her busy enough for a weekend...

Thanks again,
Cory

[Spinster]

Those lovely oval copper laundry boilers are post war. She needs a 3 legged iron washpot. Depending in where you are, as these things don't ship, we can discuss a sale privately.

Washboards--Chris Henderson makes a correct wooden rubboard.

Barrels/tubs: hard to find a correct wooden banded wet coopered tub. Best available is a metal banded sliced whiskey barrel.

Canvas buckets--bad idea. Small capacity and leaky. She needs wood or tin buckets and a water yoke.

We've got a white smith who makes tin washtubs as well.

This subject needs a pretty detailed sourcing list. Bring this thread up again in about 3 weeks--gives me time to get past Shiloh.

[MrsArmstrong]

Children LOVE to help do laundry...water, hard soap (lye) and scrub board and kids are happy! Two kids can help wring out wet stuff. You can pick up inexpensive sheets at thrift stores, yard or estate sales. I've taken them and pulled out the machine stitching and hand hemmed them if you want to go that extra effort. Pillow covers with ties are easy also.
I also keep a water kettle on the fire for adding hot water...and an occasional cup of tea for me
I use a clothes line to dry (I am sensitive to many plants out in nature) or you can lay wet things on bushes to dry. If you use a line there should always be some thing on the line so others can "see" the line, especially guys on horses!!!! As they might not "see" an empty clothes line. I also have a nice sapling that I use to prop up the line when wet clothes are on it.
A tin tub is much lighter than a wooden one.