Happy Birthday to Junius Brutus Booth Jr.!

Happy Birthday to Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., born today in 1821 (December 22, 1821 – September 16, 1883.

As a member of the illustrious Booth family of actors, Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. was overshadowed not only by his father Junius, Sr. and brothers Edwin and John Wilkes, but by his wife Agnes, who was a successful actress in her own right.

Booth managed the Boston Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Winter Garden Theatre, and Booth's Theatre where his brother Edwin was the star attraction. Though a relatively undistinguished actor, Junius, Jr. was highly regarded for his performances as King John and Cassius in Julius Caesar, which he performed with Edwin as Brutus and John Wilkes as Mark Antony in 1864.[1]

Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., himself was briefly imprisoned in Washington, DC, after his brother assassinated Abraham Lincoln. At the time of the assassination, he was fulfilling an acting engagement in Cincinnati, Ohio. Even so, he was arrested and hurried by train to the Old Capitol Prison.

The Question of Edwin Booth's Birthday

Edwin Booth wasn’t sure of the exact date of his birth at the property of Tudor Hall. His mother and older brother Junius, Jr. disagree on the day he was born. In a letter to his daughter, Edwina, dated November 14, 1869 describes his dilemma:

My Own Daughter,
Your dear letter with the pretty book-mark (“I love you”) came safely last night, just in time. It seems there is some doubt as to the exact date of my arrival here. Grandma says I was born on the night of the great “star shower” in 1883, and insists that it was November 15; but Uncle June says he remembers well—both my birth and the “Star Shower” occurred on November 13, 1833. So you see, I do not know which is the day—for, although I was there, I was too young to pay attention to such weighty matters, and can’t remember much about it. However, your little present, which I shall always cherish, my darling, came in good season for either day…

Here’s what history says about the shower: The night of November 12-13, 1833, not only marks the discovery of the Leonid meteor shower, but it marks the actual birth of meteor astronomy. During the hours following sunset on November 12, some astronomers noted an unusual number of meteors in the sky, but it was the early morning hours of the 13th that left the greatest impression on the people of eastern North America. During the 4 hours which preceded dawn, the skies were lit up by meteors.

Edwin was also born with a caul (a membrane covering the head at birth). In the servants quarters, the wise old African Americans cackled delightedly. Consulting the lore of their African ancestors, they peered into the child’s future and predicted that because of his caul he would be lucky and “gifted to see sperrits.” It appears his brother Junius was right about the date.

The Edwin Booth Company Presents…

The world premiere of “The Edwin Booth Company Presents…” will take place at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Greenhill Center of the Arts on Nov. 29.

Junior Jacob Lesh will play the lead.

“It is so exciting to originate a character,” Lesh said. “Not a lot of actors our age have that privilege. Even a lot of professional actors go their whole life without ever originating a character. The script is getting a lot of national attention, and we haven’t even performed it yet. It’s beyond words to say how incredible this whole experience is.”

Lesh stars as Edwin Booth, the lesser-known brother of the infamous John Wilkes Booth.

“Edwin Booth was known for being a fantastic actor,” Lesh said. “He’s credited as being the first actor to really bring forth naturalism onto the stage. He comes from this time period where there’s all this presentational acting, and he just kind of said, ‘Let’s throw that out the window and let’s do this natural form of acting instead.’”

Lesh did comprehensive research with the writer and director of the play, Whitewater Lecturer Angela Iannone, to try and better understand Booth.

“He really has a lot of credit to his name, but himself as a person, he’s a little more meek and shy,” Lesh said. “He really can’t express himself without use of the plays he’s in because he doesn’t know how to talk. Angela and I did extensive research and this is literally the guy who’s at the cast parties sitting in the corner all by himself because he can’t talk to other people. He’s just that nervous in social interactions.”

When asked to describe the play, Lesh had trouble summing it up in just a few words.

“Basically it’s about a man who is trying to fight to win the love of his life back while also dealing with his own self inflictions,” Lesh said. “He’s haunted by the memory of his lost father and is stressed over trying to make money for his company.”

The show may focus on Booth, but, as the title implies, his acting company plays a major role as well.

“It’s about his company members trying to put on this play and trying to be successful,” Lesh said. “When the leading lady falls ill, the only person who can take her place is Edwin Booth’s past love, Mary Devlin.”

Junior Ally Ruge plays Devlin, the strong willed female lead, opposite Booth.

Devlin is about 17 when this play takes place and she’s a love struck teenage.

“She’s very passionate in her views and wants to remain an actress, but Edwin wants her to give up that life because he doesn’t want to have to compete with her when they’re married,” Ruge said. “She’s very headstrong about her beliefs and part of the play is dealing with those issues between her and Edwin.”

Both Ruge and Lesh, along with the rest of the cast, have been rehearsing six days a week for the last month to ensure the play is tuned to perfection.

“I have a really good feeling that all of this hard work is going to pay off,” Lesh said. “I really think people are going to have a new perspective on the name of Booth.”

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, but Lesh and company are giving it their all.

“It is a little bit difficult because we have a director who is also a professional actress,” Lesh said. “Angela is really good at what she does and she’s been working on this play for about three and a half years now. We don’t get her every day because she has to work from Wednesday to Friday. When she’s there on Monday and Tuesday, it’s extensive. We’ll be running things over and over again. There’s a lot of beautiful language in this play and it’s really important that we get every single word correct.”

The “Edwin Booth Company Presents…” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 and runs until Dec. 3 at the Barnett Theatre in the Center of the Arts.

Additional information can be found on the Department’s website at http://www.uww.edu/cac/theatre/.

Article link:http://royalpurplenews.com/?p=4610

The Civil War Era Fashion Show at Tudor Hall

It was a great day to step back in time and enjoy the Civil War Era Fashion Show. Even though the threat of rain persuaded everyone to move inside, it did not hinder the enjoyment of the 41 guests, 9 models and 5 volunteers on 9-11-11.

Eight members of the The Civil War Dance & Arts Society did a beautiful job modeling. The presentation showcased: ladies and children in day dresses and formal wear; gentlemen in civilian clothing , formal wear, Union and Confederate uniforms. This delighted the multi-generational audience and sparked curiosity and a lot of thoughtful questions. The program concluded with a presentation of an extensive photo display and beautiful ladies jewelry.

The guests were then given a tour of Tudor Hall and learned about the history of the Booth family as well as Tudor Hall. It was an afternoon of fun, history, and a step back in time.

Why Visit Tudor Hall?

When you visit Tudor Hall, you're not just visiting the grand cottage named Tudor Hall—you're visiting a great American story that couldn't be made up in fiction. It's a story of intrigue, exceptional talent, sexual indiscretions, hidden secrets, triumphs and tragedies that changed the national landscape, both for the good and bad.

It's the story of an extraordinarily unique dysfunctional family. It's the story of a complex actor who came to America to avoid problems and became the greatest actor of his generation. It's about the eldest son who struggled financially his whole life and managed theatres. It's the story about the intricate inner workings that led two brothers along opposite paths during the time of America's greatest upheaval; one brother, whose allegiance was with the North, a supporter of Abraham Lincoln and became the foremost actor of his time; the other whose allegiance was with the South to the point of obsession, struggled as an actor and assassinated the President. It's about a sister who needed to be taken care of her whole life. It's about another sister who dedicated her life defending her family's name. It's about a younger brother who had no interest in the family theatrical tradition and became a physician. It is the story of a wife and mother who did everything she could to protect and take care of her family against all odds. It's the story of the Maryland Booths who left their mark on America forever. It's this absorbing story you'll encounter when you visit Tudor Hall. Help keep history alive.

Life Around Tudor Hall

John Wilkes Booth wrote a letter to his friend T. William O'Laughlen on June 18, 1855, describing his activities near Tudor Hall. I find it fascinating—it's a snapshot of the times, social life, and mindset of John as a teenager while living at Tudor Hall. I found this letter in Right or Wrong, God Judge Me—The Writings of John Wilkes Booth, edited by John Rhodehamel and Louise Taper.

My Dear Friend,
I have been so taken up with pastimes and various amusements that I can scarcely find time to sleep, and it is something new to me, being a very late riser[...] The first week in June I was taken up by a Fair [...] I spent more time than money on it [...] for I was there night and day and you must not think I was blowing when I say I cut quite a dash. I saw pretty girls home from the Fair at ten o'clock at night, some at a distance of four or five miles [...] I have visited the Travelers home, or home sweet home [...] The day after tomorrow I am invited to a strawberry eating and I promise you I will do my duty, and from then until teusday I will do nothing but gun, ride, and sleep and eat [...] Then comes the grand affair. A Pick nick party to be held on the rocks of Deer crick. Thirty-seven coupples to attend [...] it is also an old saying that a Lawyer can lie like the Devil. I think they are like the devil also in making women content. The devil tempted mother Eve with an apple. I dont know wether Lawyers use apples or no, but they all tempt the ladies [...] for they have the means of revenge. hurah. I have wrote a long letter at last. try to answer it with one having as meny words and I am satisfied. My Dear fellow I would finish this paper but my pen is so d—n bad, and by not writing for so long a time, I have forgotten how, but I will try and add I am your Faithful Friend, J. Wilkes Booth.

Kevin Bacon's Booths Drama Project At Showtime Taps Writer

In September 2008, Kevin Bacon set up at Showtime The Booths, a drama about Abraham Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth and his brother. Three years and a regime change at the pay cable network later, there is movement on the project. Oscar-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia) has been tapped to write the potential series, which Bacon is still executive producing.

The Booths focuses on Confederate Booth and his brothers, Edwin and Junius Brutus Jr., and chronicles their years leading up to the April 14, 1865 assassination of Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. The brothers, sons of British Shakespearean actor Junius Brutus Booth and Mary Ann Holmes, were all stage performers. In addition to The Booths, Bacon also is executive producing a single-camera comedy at HBO based on Clint McCown's book The Member-Guest with an eye to star. Nyswaner most recently co-wrote with Phil Dorling the feature comedy Predisposed, which is now filming with Jesse Eisenberg and Tracy Morgan starring and Dorling directing.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/kevin-bacons-booths-drama-project-at-showtime-taps-writer/

The Birth of Tudor Hall

All but two of the Booth children were born in the log cabin nestled in the Maryland countryside which eventually became Tudor Hall. Let's go back to the beginning of how this grand residence came to be. I'll let someone who was there tell the story. The Booth family chronicler Asia Booth Clarke described the Booth home in her memoir The Elder and the Younger Booth, published in 1882:

In the summer of 1822, while the yellow-fever was raging in Baltimore, Mr. Booth purchased a farm twenty-five miles from that city, lying in Harford County, Maryland. This place became his constant resort when free from the excitement of his profession, and was the birthplace of his children. It was always known as "The Farm," but was in reality a dense forest, called the "Big Woods," which served as a free hunting-ground on moonlight nights when the whole place was rendered musical by the baying of the hounds and the call of sportsman....The rough coach road to the farm was made picturesque and delightful in the summer by the massive trees which arched it....From the road a crooked, narrow pathway wound to the Booth dwelling....This was a log-cabin, plastered and whitewashed on the exterior; the small square window-frames, and broad, plain shutters....painted red. Four rooms besides the loft, the kitchen, and the Old Dominion chimney, made a picturesque and comfortable abode, standing in a clearing encompassed by huge oak, black walnut, beech, and tulip trees.

The cabin in its primal state, unpainted and unplastered, had been removed to its present locality across several fields. This proceeding caused great wonderment among the villagers, as every available man, ox, and horse had been effected on account of a spring of delicious water which Mr. booth had discovered under the thickest trees.

What a great description! When I visit Tudor Hall, I look around the property and picture in my mind the great undertaking of moving the cabin—wow. Shortly before his death, Junius Brutus Booth began building the gothic revival house named Tudor Hall. At the time, the Booth family also had a town house in Baltimore where they usually spent the winter. The town house no longer exists. We're very fortunate to be able to visit this great piece of history called Tudor Hall today. If you have not visited it, I encourage you to do so. It brings history alive.

Edwin Booth: Such heart-breaking loveliness

After the famous actor Edwin Booth's death, he was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts (the rest of his family, including his infamous brother, were buried in Baltimore). Poet Thomas Bailey Aldrich served as a pallbearer for the funeral, and wrote of the experience to fellow writer William Winter on June 12, 1893.


Just as Edwin was laid in the grave, among the fragrant pine-boughs which lined it, and softened its cruelty, the sun went down. I never saw anything of such heart-breaking loveliness as this scene. There in the tender afterglow two or three hundred men and women stood silent with bowed heads. A single bird, in a nest hidden somewhere near by twittered from time to time. The soft June air, blowing across the upland, brought with it the scent of syringa blossoms from the slope below. Overhead and among the trees the twilight was gathering. "Good night, sweet Prince!" I said, under my breath.

Aldrich admitted in his account of the experience that he would have fell to the grass-covered ground and cried — "if there had not been a crowd of people."

Two years earlier, a new portrait of Booth was put on display. Aldrich was moved enough by the image to write a poem about it:


That face which no man ever saw
And from his memory banished quite,
With eyes in which are Hamlet's awe
And Cardinal Richelieu's subtle light
Looks from this frame. A master's hand
Has set the master-player here,
In the fair temple that he planned
Not for himself. To us most dear
This image of him!" It was thus
He looked; such pallor touched his cheek;
With that same grace he greeted us —
Nay, 't is the man, could it but speak!"
Sad words that shall be said some day —
Far fall the day! O cruel Time,
Whose breath sweeps mortal things away,
Spare long this image of his prime,
That others standing in the place
Where, save as ghosts, we come no more,
May know what sweet majestic face
The gentle Prince of Players wore!

A Sister's Memory

The next time you visit Tudor Hall, take a look around the property. Asia Booth—who named the grand cottage Tudor Hall—had many adventures with her brother John Wilkes there. I'll let Asia tell you about one of them. In her book John Wilkes Booth: A Sister's Memoir, Asia wrote:

In the woods he (John) would throw himself face downward and nestle his nose close into the earth, taking long sniffs of the "earth's healthy breath," he called it. He declared this process of inhaling wholesome odors and rich scents delightful, but could never induce me to try. He called it "burrowing," and he loved to nibble at sweet roots and twigs, so that I called him a rabbit. He was ardently fond of outdoor life, but was never a sportsman nor an angler. He was a lover of botany and geology, and many of the specimens in my now limited collection are of his obtaining and selection. He was very tender of flowers, and of insects and butterflies. Lightning bugs he considered as " bearers of sacred torches," and would go out of his way to avoid injuring them. He once, after nights of endeavor, caught a katy-did just to show me what the little nuisance was like. I wanted it eagerly for my collection.

"No you don't, you bloodthirsty female," he said, putting the creature in his breast. "Katy shall be free to sing tonight out in the sycamores." Then kissing the small thing, he said, "Oh you small devil. How you can banish sleep, quiet, and good temper! Katy, you fiend, how many nights you have kept me awake cursing your existence!" With that he walked over to the trees, and laid the little night brawler safely among the leaves, to tune her pipes for night once more.

I love this story of brother and sister. As they were playing on the property of Tudor Hall, you can hear John already developing his dramatic flair. Great stuff!

Tudor Hall Featured in "Nite Lite Photo Of The Day" - May 31, 2011

Tudor Hall was featured on "Nite Lite Photo Of The Day" section of Fran Lane 101.9 Lite Fm's (adult contemporary radio station in Baltimore, MD) website on May 31, 2011. A Big Thanks!

Click on the image below to read article.

Changes Coming to Spirits of Tudor Hall and the Junius B. Booth Society

Effective June 1, 2011, Dinah Faber will resign as Coordinator for Spirits of Tudor Hall and President of the Junius B. Booth Society due to ill health. Dinah has been working with our Spirits volunteers to make her departure as seamless as possible. (Easier said than done!) Dinah wishes to thank the very capable Spirits of Tudor Hall volunteers who make it possible for Tudor Hall to be open to the public on a regular basis.

The Junius B. Booth Society and Spirits of Tudor Hall will work more closely than ever in the months ahead, and one of their main priorities will be to oversee the blending of the two entities into one. The Junius B. Booth Society will continue to operate as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and to recruit and train volunteers both far and near to work in support of the JBBS in general. Spirits of Tudor Hall will continue to recruit and train volunteers both locally and across the country and beyond (made possible by the digital age) to work in support of our activities at Tudor Hall, including opening this historic home to the public on a regular basis. 

Current JBBS Board and Key Spirits of Tudor Hall Volunteers
As of June 1, 2011: 

Mike Brown, President JBBS & Spirits of Tudor Hall Tour Guide 

Jill Redding, Vice President JBBS & Volunteer Coordinator Spirits of Tudor Hall 

Kim Edwards, Co-Treasurer JBBS & Reservations Manager Spirits of Tudor Hall 

Elwin Penski, Founder, Secretary, and Co-Treasurer JBBS

Kris Thomson, Lead Tour Guide & Spirits of Tudor Hall Representative to the JBBS board 

Tom Fink, Editor, Booth History Spotlight and Blog Master, Spirits of Tudor Hall Blog

Visit Tudor Hall in 2011

Spirits of Tudor Hall invites you to visit the first floor of Tudor Hall located at 17 Tudor Lane, Bel Air, Maryland, 21015. The house will be open to visitors on the following Sunday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. As space is limited, please contact us ahead of time if you plan to bring a large group. There is no charge to visit Tudor Hall, but there's a suggested donation of $3.00 for those age 13 and above.

For more information, please phone 443-619-0008 or send an email to: SpiritsOfTudorHall@gmail.com.

  
June 5 and 26; July 10 and 24; Aug. 7 and 21; Sept. 11 and 25; Oct. 9 and 23

What To Expect When You Visit Tudor Hall 

While housing developments have steadily invaded the neighborhood surrounding Tudor Hall, the grounds still magically retain much of their rural charm and are generally open to the public from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Due to limited paved parking, finding a dry place to park can be difficult when the grounds are wet and muddy due to heavy rains or melting snow. Please avoid parking on the grass when the grounds are wet as your vehicle may become seriously stuck and assistance freeing your vehicle may not be readily available.

At the current time, the office of the Harford County Cultural Arts Board is located on the first floor. The other rooms on the first floor are used as meeting space and are furnished accordingly. The offices of the Center for the Arts occupy all the rooms on the second floor. As a result, visitors are not invited upstairs. The Cultural Arts Board is dedicated to encouraging the arts in Harford County in a variety of ways. The Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a home for the arts in Harford County.

Tudor Hall has not been restored and is not furnished with period furniture. Spirits of Tudor Hall guides wear modern clothing rather than period clothing. However, volunteers in Civil War era reproduction clothing are occasionally present.

The guides provide an overview of the entire Booth family, including Junius Brutus Booth Sr., his wife Mary Ann, and their children Junius Jr., Rosalie, Edwin, Asia, John Wilkes, and Joseph. In addition, a brief history of the Booth farm and Tudor Hall is presented. Some limited information about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth is included. However, the primary goal is to inform visitors about the history of the entire Booth family and Tudor Hall. This information will help visitors place John Wilkes within the context of his family and the rural/small town community where he was born and spent much of his childhood.

We're looking forward to welcoming you to Tudor Hall!
See you there!

Tudor Hall and the Booths in Aegis, April 13, 2011

An article entitled "Civil War Divides Harford" by Bryna Zumer appears on the front page of the April 13, 2011, edition of the Aegis (newspaper published in Harford County, Maryland). Dinah Faber, Coordinator of Spirits of Tudor Hall, is quoted speaking about Tudor Hall and the Booth family under the heading "Ambivalent History" on page A6 of the article. To read part one of the article, please use the link below.

http://www.exploreharford.com/news/8641/harford-divided-civil-war/

The Conspirator Opens in Theatres April 15, 2011

The tragic story of the trial and execution of Mary Surratt is told in The Conspirator, a feature film premiering nation-wide on April 15, 2011. Mary Surratt was implicated in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln for which she and her family paid a heavy price. The film was directed by Robert Redford.  Robin Wright heads the cast which also includes James McEvoy, Evan Rachel Wood, Alexis Bledel, and Kevin Kline. Redford consulted the staff of the Surratt House Museum in Clinton, Maryland, while making the film.

The fate of Mary Surratt illustrates that although John Wilkes Booth targeted only one man, there were actually many victims of his crime. While those who had supported Lincoln and the Union were plunged into grief, Lincoln's own family never fully recovered from the violent death of the husband and father who had provided a counterweight to his wife's unstable personality. Mary Lincoln was obviously thrown even more off balance by the death of her husband.


The young couple who accompanied the Lincolns to Ford's Theatre, Henry Rathbone and his future wife Clara, seem to have been "cursed" by the assassination, and their relationship ended tragically when Rathbone killed Clara and spent the rest of his life in an asylum as a result. Their children obviously suffered greatly due to the mental instability of their father and the tragic death of their mother at their own father's hands.


While the families of the victims of a crime are often recognized, the families of those who perpetrate those crimes are often overlooked. This does not mean, however, that their lives are not affected and their hearts are not broken. The Conspirator reminds us of that and in many ways is a "horror" film that depicts what can happen to individuals and families affected by criminal acts in one way or another.


Link to The Conspirator website: http://www.conspiratorthemovie.com/?source=gaw&gclid=CM-S4an5magCFQNx5Qod2SsxNg


John Wilkes Booth's brother, Edwin, anguished over the senseless act committed by his brother, expressed his sorrow in an open letter to the citizens of the United States. It read:

New York, April 20, 1865
To the people of the United States.
My fellow citizens:

When a nation is overwhelmed with sorrow by a great public calamity, the mention of private grief would under ordinary circumstances be an intrusion, but under those by which I am surrounded, I feel sure that a word from me will not be so regarded by you.
It has pleased God to lay at the door of my afflicted family the life-blood of our great, good and martyred President. Prostrated to the very earth by this dreadful event, I am yet but too sensible that other mourners fill the land. To them, to you, one and all go forth our deep, unutterable sympathy; our abhorrence and detestation of this most foul and atrocious of crimes.
For my mother and sister, for my two remaining brothers and my own poor self, there is nothing to be said except that we are thus placed without any agency of our own. For our loyalty as dutiful, though humble, citizens, as well as for our consistent, and as we had some reason to believe, successful, efforts to elevate our name, personally and professionally, we appeal to the record of the past. For our present position we are not responsible. For the future --alas! I shall struggle on, in my retirement, with a heavy heart, an oppressed memory and a wounded name --dreadful burdens -- to my welcome grave.

Your afflicted friend,
Edwin Booth

http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1008.html

David Fried's North and South Exhibition at Slayton House in Columbia, Maryland, Feb. 10 to March 12, 2011

An exhibition of paintings by David Fried will take place February 10 to March 12, 2011, at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Wild Lake Village Green, Columbia, Maryland. The title of the exhibition is "North and South" and the paintings are all related to the American Civil War. The exhibition includes portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis as well as a new portrait of John Wilkes Booth.

Over the past few years, Mr. Fried has generously donated oil portraits of Junius B. Booth Sr, Mary Ann Holmes Booth, Edwin Booth, and John Wilkes Booth to Harford County for display at Tudor Hall. Mr. Fried also donated a pen and ink sketch and a watercolor of Tudor Hall, which are also displayed at the Booth's historic home which was purchased by Harford County in 2006.

Spirits of Tudor Hall Invites You to Join Us in the Adventure and Romance at Tudor Hall

Ever since we first organized in 2008, Spirits of Tudor Hall has been in the business of taking something old (Tudor Hall) and creating something new (our tours and our growing sense of team spirit). Not only do we work hard but we have fun as we work together to explore and share the history of Tudor Hall and the Booth family.

There are no membership requirements or dues at the current time beyond providing active support in whatever way suits you best. However, we do encourage our volunteers to consider purchasing a membership in at least one of the organizations that support Spirits of Tudor Hall. Memberships are available in the Center for the Arts, the Historical Society of Harford County, and the Junius B. Booth Society. For more information about becoming a member of these organizations, please contact spirits-of-tudor-hall@msn.com.

If you enjoy “pitching in” and using your skills and knowledge to make things happen, Tudor Hall just might be the place for you. A few of the “jobs” currently available are described below. Take a look at the list. If you don't find anything that fits your skills and interests, feel free to write and contact us with your own job description.

If you wish to volunteer, please contact us with information about your skills, experience, and qualifications and explain how you can put them to work on behalf of Tudor Hall.

For more information, contact Dinah Faber at spirits-of-tudor-hall@msn.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Storytellers

Spirits of Tudor Hall invites anyone with a talent for storytelling to audition to bring to life the story of Tudor Hall and those who have lived there while guiding visitors through the house.

Anyone interested in auditioning should contact Spirits of Tudor Hall for more information, including an application form and guidelines for submitting a brief resume and preparing for an audition.

Actors and Reenactors of Historic “Characters”

The primary goal of Spirits of Tudor Hall is to insure that visitors enjoy visiting Tudor Hall and learning more about the history of the house and the Booth family. A visit to Tudor Hall should not only be educational but entertaining as well.

With that in mind, Spirits of Tudor Hall invites anyone with acting or reenacting experience to audition for the role of any one of several historic figures associated with Tudor Hall for the purpose of welcoming visitors and taking them on a tour of the house while “in character.”

The roles available include any and all the members of the Booth family, Ella Harward Kyle Mahoney who lived at Tudor Hall for nearly 70 years, and any and all members of the Joseph and Ann Hall family (an African American family associated with Tudor Hall from the 1820s into the early 1900s).

Those who successfully complete the audition process will receive assistance in researching the historical character they have chosen to depict and creating a “conversational” script for that character. Once a character and script have been developed and proficiency in depicting the character has been demonstrated, assistance will be provided in choosing, designing, and funding an historically correct costume.

Anyone interested in auditioning should contact Spirits of Tudor Hall for more information, including an application form and guidelines for submitting a brief resume and preparing for an audition.

Speech and Drama Coaches

Our "performers" would benefit from the advice of an experienced speech and/or drama coach who enjoys working with those who are new to the "theatre." If that describes you, we would be delighted to include you in our team. Please contact us with details about your experience and qualifications.

Script and Story Writers

While some of our actors, reenactors, and storytellers may create their own scripts, others may ask for assistance in developing a script or storyline. Anyone with a talent for drafting storylines and writing dialogue is invited to contact Spirits of Tudor Hall for an application form and guidelines for presenting a brief resume and samples of their writing.

History Buffs to Provide Research Assistance

It is important that all information presented to visitors at Tudor Hall be as accurate and complete as possible. While some of our actors, reeenactors, storytellers, and speakers may prefer to do their own research and fact checking, others may appreciate assistance. Anyone with experience researching historic people, places, and events, is invited to contact Spirits of Tudor Hall for an application form and guidelines for presenting a brief resume and examples of successful research projects.

Oral Historians

There are many people in the community who have been associated with Tudor Hall over the years. It is important to collect and record the memories of these individuals. If you enjoy interviewing and photographing people and/or if you are skilled with a tape recorder or video camera and would like to help capture the oral history of Tudor Hall, please let us know.

Stage and Set Managers

There is always a certain amount of "set up" and "break down" required before and after the tours at Tudor Hall.  This ranges from raising the flag in the front yard to setting up chairs on the front porch to distributing materials for visitors to pick up throughout the house and then "undoing" it all when the tours are over. If you would like to help us "open" and "close" the house and help keep things working like a well oiled machine in between, this job just might be for you.

Gift Shop

In January, February, and March 2011, our gift shop committee will meet to develop and take action on ways to transform our gift shop in time for the first tours in April. Anyone with retail experience is invited to contact Spirits of Tudor Hall for more information about participating in the gift shop committee.

Tudor Hall Speakers Bureau

To meet requests from community organizations and schools, Spirits of Tudor Hall needs people with a talent for public speaking to tell the story of Tudor Hall at local meetings and events and in local classrooms.

Actors, reenactors, and storytellers with experience at Tudor Hall may be interested in participating in community outreach of this kind.

Experienced PowerPoint Designer/Developer

Of course, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and a PowerPoint “slide show” would enhance any presentation about Tudor Hall in a classroom or meeting hall. Anyone with experience creating successful PowerPoint presentations is invited to contact Spirits of Tudor Hall about the possibility of developing a PowerPoint presentation for use by members of our Speakers Bureau.

Website Designer

While our blog continues to work well for us, we would like to explore moving on to a full-fledged website if we can find an experienced website designer to help ease the process. Spirits of Tudor Hall would be thrilled to welcome a trained and experienced website designer to our team of volunteers.

Online Publicity Hounds

Attracting visitors to our tours is one of the most important and satisfying tasks we face. It is also one of the most time consuming and challenging. Therefore, in 2011 we are creating a publicity committee to divide and conquer a number of publicity related "jobs."

We’re looking for a dedicated and reliable individuals who:

are familiar with one or more aspects of local media, including newspapers (the Aegis and its associated publication The Weekender are especially important), websites, radio, and/or television

have online computer skills

enjoy giving attention to details

thrive on seeing their hard work  rewarded by increased attendance at tours and events at Tudor Hall.

Old-Fashioned Publicity Hounds

Attracting visitors to our tours is one of the most important and satisfying tasks we face. It is also one of the most time consuming and challenging. Therefore, in 2011 we are creating a publicity committee to divide and conquer a number of publicity related "jobs." 

Even though we live in an electronic age, there is still a need to reach people the old-fashioned way through printed fliers, posters, and letters sent via snail mail.

We’re looking for people who:

can design attention grabbing printed materials, including fliers that advertise our tours

plan and execute an effective distribution plan for printed materials

occasionally print letters, stuff envelopes, and deliver these materials for mailing to the post office

Social Networking Fans

While Spirits of Tudor Hall has a successful and popular Facebook page in place, we would certainly welcome assistance in making it more effective, lively, and engaging.

Our fledgling Twitter page is in need of someone who enjoys and "gets" Twitter to help our Twitter page spread its wings and fly!

If you have experience creating and managing a successful online Facebook or Twitter page (especially for a business or organization), Spirits of Tudor Hall would certainly welcome your advice and assistance in improving and managing our Facebook and/or Twitter pages or setting up new pages on other popular social networking sites.

Photographers

Digital photographs of activities and the change of seasons at Tudor Hall are always needed for the Spirits of Tudor Hall blog and Facebook page. If you have a knack for taking high quality photos and would like to use your experience and talent to capture Tudor Hall in digital images, please email us samples of your work.

Party People

Last but certainly not least. Refreshments are served at many meetings or events sponsored by Spirits of Tudor Hall including some tours, and “foodies” who enjoy preparing and serving food and beverages are very welcome and much appreciated at Tudor Hall.

If you've come to the end of the list and still haven't found a job description that fits your interests and skills, then scroll down the page for the "post" with the title "Going Wild at Tudor Hall." There you'll find a list of volunteer activities for people who enjoy spending time outdoors.