Bibliography Guidelines

ALRA · **Posted:** Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:25 pm

Suggested Guidelines for the Preparation of the Bibliography

Note: These are not part of the ALRA By-laws and do not require the amendment process to change. The NSCA may change these in accordance with amendment four.
1. The purpose of the bibliography is to assist the National Standing Committee on Authenticity to insure that high standards of authenticity are met within the ranks of the ALRA.
2. It also instills a desired perspective toward research and documentation of equipment used.
3. To assist the prospective; member in an enjoyable and cost effective experience, the guidelines must be followed and the candidate must:.
  1. Include proof of payment of dues.
  2. Include a description of the chosen character and include his or her occupation, the geographic location, the date of his or her sojourn, and other information deemed important about the character portrayed.
  3. Clothing and accouterments detailed in the bibliography must be tied to this date and character.
  4. Two sources must be listed for each item. One source must be a PRIMARY source as defined by the NSCA. The second may be an additional primary or an authoritative secondary source. Cite the author, book or document name, page and plate number, etc. The source should substantiate the date of use of the item. In some instances the date of use may be implied by the source.
  5. Include color photographs of the front and rear of the candidate. He/she should be dressed, including his/her equipment. Additional photographs of all documented clothing, equipment, and firelock should be included. Please show as much detail and use as close-up a shot as possible.
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Clothing and Equipment
All members are free to portray any authentic character of the period. Men and women’s clothing should be described in detail. Descriptions should include the type of material of construction, leather, cloth, wood, etc. and types of buttons or closures, cloth patterns and style, etc. Clothing should adhere to documented patterns.
1. Accouterments: The equipment used should match the character being portrayed.
  1. Possible bag or haversack.
  2. Tomahawk or belt ax, hand forged or cast, brass or iron.
  3. Knife with properly attached handle of period materials.
  4. It is not required the knife be hand forged; and hi carbon steel is acceptable, but stainless steel and aluminum are not acceptable.
  5. Whetstone of natural material.
  6. Fire set, bow drill or flint and steel.
  7. Period eating utensils.
  8. Water vessel, such as cup, canteen, jug, or wood barrel.
  9. Salt and seasonings in period containers.
  10. Gun oil and cleaning equipment.
  11. Sewing equipment: needles, linen thread or sinew, bees wax, and awl.
  12. Candles.
  13. Compass.
2. Shooting Equipment:.
  1. A period flintlock. The gun cannot be of a later period than the character chosen.
  2. Powder horn or other documented powder container. Describe the powder container’s features such as length, material and engraving.
  3. Hunting pouch or cartridge box. Describe its features.
The following are recommended, but a specific source of documentation need not be given. However documentation you provide will be recorded and used to aid others in their research, therefore will be appreciated.
- A whisk brush, vent pick, and powder measure. These are often suspended from the hunting pouch.
- Gun oil or grease in a period container. Traditional cleaning with clear water is expected at ALRA events.
- The following items are common and must be of period design and materials:.
  1. Bullet bag, Rolled cartridges, Priming horn.
  2. Cloth patching, Lock cover "cow’s knee".
  3. Bullet mold, Flints, Screw driver, Knapping hammer.
These items are not required. It is only necessary that a member be able to load, shoot, and properly maintain the flintlock, from the bag, with efficiency. When attending ALRA events one should be prepared to shoot at least 25 rounds.
Other historically correct items may be carried in the hunting pouch according to the individual’s character portrayal.
An accouterment need not be an exact copy of an original; a reasonable extrapolation is acceptable.
Clothing should adhere to known and documented period patterns.
It is the responsibility of the member to incur the cost of postage and handling of the bibliography.

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How to Submit Your Bibliography:
1. Make four copies of your bibliography.
2. Keep one copy for your records.
3. Three copies are to be sent to the NSCA via your sponsor.
4. Include a check for $13.00 made out to the chairperson of the NSCA for postage and handling.
5. Include proof of current dues paid membership status, your sponsors name and Patriot Number.
6. Give all of your bibliography materials along with the necessary shipping and handling fees to your sponsor. Your sponsor will then review your bibliography and submit it to the chairperson of the NSCA.
7. Include your twentieth century name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and any other personal information needed by the committee to contact you and your sponsor.
The chairperson will forward it to the other committee members for their review and vote. When all of the ballots are returned and the bibliography has been approved it will be forwarded to the ALRA National Historian. If the candidates bibliography is not approved the bibliography will be returned to the candidate’s sponsor with information about why the bibliography was not passed and what items require re-documentation.
The new Patriot will be notified of the approval of his/her bibliography, assigned a permanent Patriot Number, awarded an ALRA gorget, and sent information about how to receive their ALRA gorget.
Due to the amount of shipping, reviewing of documentation and correspondence that must take place, this process can take several weeks. Your patience is appreciated.

Primary Source Defined:
A primary source is a contemporary account of or the description of an item or article of clothing. (Events are not included, as we are not discussing events here.) These may be official documents, diaries, or first hand written accounts. The use of contemporary newspapers should be included. An archaeological recovery and the reports of that discovery giving dates, locations, etc. are for our purposes to be considered a primary source. Books and published articles that describe equipment and clothing that are in museums and are presented by authoritative sources should be acceptable as a primary source. In this case the items provenance must be known and the information must not rely on other primary sources for proof.

Secondary Source Defined:
Secondary sources are those sources that review and interpret primary sources. Secondary sources may provide more information about an item because they review more than one primary source. Secondary sources may include reproductions of original pieces as examples. Secondary sources should be scholarly and by recognized authorities. They should be used when a second primary source cannot be found. The guidelines are now going to require two sources for every item. One source must be a primary source.

American Long Rifle Association

Bibliography Guidelines

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