Our History

[Mike Baker]

Estrill Swet (Deborah Sweet) brings before us a suggestion:
>  Subject: Our history was Re: Baroness Regina, rumour confirmed
>  [Lovely tale of elevation of Baroness Regina de Masquere SNIPPED]
>  Now, if we could only read other reports like this one, *describing* how
>  other people are ceremoniously elevated. *This* is what needs to be
>  collected in our history, IMHO.

I certainly would agree with Estrill.  It is a matter of some regret for me, 
personally, that I was not able to be present when several old and dear 
friends received their accolades within the SCA.

Not only that, but any number of other occurences take place that one may 
learn about only years later even if physically present at the same event. 
 Presentations before the court of regalia, acceptances as apprentice or 
squire, the reception of ambassadorial visitations -- any of these may be of 
particular memorable qualities.  So, too, may certain lapses of memory or 
confusions which produce humor (such should of course be chronicled with the 
appropriate humor meticulously and scrupulously preserved!)

Once, in the time of the histories, it was the duty of the chroniclers, 
heralds, and bards to make such records and maintain them.  In later courts, 
in later times, the function of creating histories was accorded to formal 
historians.

At the present, it is my understanding that Ansteorra still seeks applicants 
for the office of Kingdom Historian; it is also my understanding that the 
duties of the office are currently far more archivist than writer or 
compiler of histories.  Our chroniclers in the Current Middle Ages are far 
more concerned with the future than that which has already passed 
(announcements of upcoming events and publication of new administrative 
rulings far outweigh descriptions of what has already *been*).

Is there a solution?  Possibly.  Is there a first step toward a solution? 
Absolutely:  each of our memories, preserved in the form of personal 
journals or submitted to the various chroniclers of our acquaintance in the 
form of event reports.

Who knows?  Somewhere out there might be the spiritual heir of Rootie 
Kazootie, tongue-in-cheek recorder of events whose tales were once a beloved 
portion of the SteppesLetter -- and whose true identity remains unknown to 
the general populace even today.

Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)  s.k.a. Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri 
al-Amra
     currently residing in Barony of the Steppes, Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mike C. Baker                      mbaker at rapp.com
Any opinions expressed are obviously my own unless explicitly stated 
otherwise!