I'm something of a WWI person myself as both my grandfathers participated. My maternal grandfather volunteered with the American Ambulance Field Service (SSU 15) and my paternal grandfather trained at Plattsburgh and was a lieutenant in the Yankee Division, seeing action and a number of famous battles.
I have a few suggestions.
Have you contact the American Field Service, 71 West 23rd Street, 6th floor, NY NY 10010? (212-807-8686). Nicole Milano is the head archivist and they have amazing stuff.
nicole.milano@afs.org.
Again, on the ambulance front, George King III is the head of the Ambulance 255 project. They actually rebuilt an authentic Ford Model T ambulance of the sort that my Pop would have driven. George is based in Connecticut. Here's a link to an AFS article about the project.
http://www.afsusa.org/about-afs/news/article/?article_id=6379
Their website, such as it is:https://ambulance255.org/history
George's email
isgking3@rcn.com and his phone is1-860-642-7103.
I imagine I don't need to mention the WWI museum in KC?
https://www.theworldwar.org/And if you are looking for an idea for the younger set, consider thinking about poppies. "In Flanders' fields the poppies blow..." by John McRae, of course. Did you see what London did on that motif? Again, I am sure you did.
http://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/tower-of-london-remembers/#gs.3GSiyikFinally, I see you are at the Penn State All-Sport Museum. My Pop, the ambulance driver, included mention of a lot of sports, especially soccer, in his diaries. And, of course, there is the legend of the Christmas Truce soccer games of 1914 and 1915. So glad to hear about this exhibition. Good luck!
Ellen
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Ellen Cutler
Adjunct Professor
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear
Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!
We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!
Thank you!
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Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
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