Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film, Photos and Stories Make History Come Alive

I don’t know about you, but I love photographs! Although talented artists drew and painted images in the likeness of those around them, I am grateful to live in the photographic era. Photography has gone through many developments, even in my own lifetime. My first experience with this medium was in elementary school as I boarded a bus. I was given a camera to take along on a school field trip to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I was reminded of this when I heard Maureen Taylor’s story of the photographs of men who fought in the Revolutionary War. It was then that I was transported back to the place of my first photographs, which were black and white, and the stench of a replicated cabin. I will never forget that smell!

Almost every American child learns about the Revolutionary War multiple times throughout his or her school years. Learning from a textbook is rarely engaging with just words on a page and a picture or two representing the entire experience. For close to a decade, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, has acquired over 200 photographic images of people who were alive during the Revolutionary War period who lived to experience the beginning of the photographic era. She’s researched their stories, found journals and documents, and visited the historic sites in relation to some of these individuals. She has published two books on the subject, The Last Muster: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation with Joan Severa and David Allen Lambert and The Last Muster, Volume 2: Faces of the American Revolution, which will be released on May 10, 2013.

Now, Maureen has joined with Verissma Productions to bring these Revolutionary War stories to life for us, those around us, and those that come after us in Revolutionary Voices: A Last Muster Film. Back in February, Maureen and Verissma launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $27,500 to begin production. I am happy to report that the initial goal was surpassed this past week :-) Now with only a few days to go, the campaign continues. With additional funding there can be some upgrades in the production. I love upgrades :-)

According to the website:

If [they] make it to $32,500, [they] can include high end Video Graphics in the short version of the film
If [they] reach $35,000 [they] will be able to hire an associate producer to do pre-production for the entire hour-long film
If [they] finish with $37,500 [they’ll] hire a researcher to negotiate music / photo rights for the entire film.

As I said, I like upgrades and I know Maureen Taylor does quality work. I am convinced that the fruition of this film will provide generations with a solid anchor of knowledge of this time in history and the lives of those who experienced it. If you would like to contribute to this project you can do so until Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 11:59pm EDT. Contributions can be as little as a dollar, but there are incentives for specific levels of donation.

When a person is doing genealogy and family history, major events in history, as well as minor acts, create the context for the intricate involvement that spans people, places, and time periods. Please consider supporting this projects’ higher goals.

Now, I subtitled this post Photos and Stories Make History Come Alive. It is true of all history, even your family’s history. Maureen has written many books that can help you curate your photo collection, including Preserving Your Family Photographs, which is available in both hard copy and Kindle editions through Amazon.com.

This past week, as mentioned, I was reminded of the time and place of my first experience as a photographer. As I reminisced, I also found a forgotten photograph of me at the age of five and my great aunt. I picked up the phone and called her. Now, at the age of 88, she had just returned from the grocery store and we had a delightful conversation :-) This week, take some time to reminisce and, if so inclined, pick up the phone. Someone may be waiting to hear from you and you will be making history!