We host a Variety of Fashion Show Programs for your event needs!

Joy Melcher presents many kinds of fashion shows to suit your needs.
Shown here is a timeline fashion show featuring models from 1800 to 1880. Education and Entertaining for your audience!

Our pre-planning organizing allows you to involve members of your own community or organization to participate as models, making this event even more special!

To inquire about our fashion show, Click HERE

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      We offer Speakers & Programs on a Variety of Topics on Victorian Studies
                                         Book Your 2012 Program Now!

Looking for that perfect professional speaker for your program or event? Our members travel throughout the country presenting for you on a Variety of Topics with proven success.

Our staff includes proven authors, writers, professional speakers, Television appearances,
Costumers for theater & film productions ~ View a partial list of our programs below
Our qualified staff of speakers offers entertaining & educational programs on a Variety of Topics.
Book one, two or three to suit your events needs! Fashion Shows for all your needs!
Organizations ~ Corporate Shows ~ Theater Performances




Northern Women & Their Domestic Household
We can provide live musical performances with many programs
All programs tailored to your event needs!
Our staff includes authors, writers, professional speakers, Television appearances,
costumers for theater and film productions.

Don't take a chance on an unknown entity ~ Book a proven Speaker for guaranteed educational & entertaining programs.
Over the past 20 years, we have presented for the National Parks Services, Anniversary Reenactments, Museum & Historical Societies, Churches,
Roundtables, Private functions, Medical Societies, Corporate Conventions, Conferences and 150th Anniversary events with great success!
 As well, we also sponsor our own SUCCESSFUL events!
   For pricing and testimonials,  please use our contact form today!

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"So You Want to Be An Army Nurse"

                  Jackie's Programs Include

• The Royal Disease; Hemophilia in the British Royal Family.                                                     
  
•  18th National Convention of the Society of Civil War Surgeons

• Nursing in the Crimean War: Florence Nightengale and Beyond.                                                     
  
• 17th National Convention of the Society of Civil War Surgeons
•  Catholic Sisters in the American Civil War                                                                                            
  
•  16th National Convention of the Society of Civil War Surgeons
• So You Want to be an Army Nurse                                                                                                    
  
•  14th National Convention of the Society of Civil War Surgeons
• Adeline Blanchard Tyler: Civil War Nurse. Presentation to 8th Annual Conference on Civil War Medicine Sponsored by The National Museum of Civil War Medicine Sister Against Sister
•  The Catholic Sisterhoods at War.                                                                                                    
  
• Presentation to the Seventh National Conference of the Society of Civil War Surgeons, Inc.
  

Jackie Greer
Jackie is a graduate of Georgetown Univ. School of Nursing, Washington, DC and attended the  University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD.  She is a fulltime nurse in the research department of John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.  Jackie serves as the Secretary of the Society of Civil War Surgeons and a member of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

                                                                              To contact this speaker, click HERE.
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Mary Lincoln - Her Life and Times   Presenter Robin Heaney

Meet Mary, the most misunderstood woman in American history and learn about a woman who suffered loss throughout her life, who was forced to endure a lonely childhood, who saw her husband murdered in front of her, who lost three children to disease, who was misunderstood, disrespected and betrayed by her own family. In a first person presentation, Mary will tell you about her family, her extraordinary education, her courtship and marriage as well as her life in the Executive Mansion during the American Civil War.                   
                           Additional programs presented by Robin Heaney:
Eliza Cadwell, recounts the trials of a soldier’s widow who has made the trip to Antietam to recover the body of her soldier/husband and bring him home.  There are facets of this story of special interest to  medical professionals, grief counselors and psychiatrists, students of women’s history and fashion and persons interested in the role transportation played in the social history of the nation.  Anna Surrat:  Anna will tell the story of the Surratt family, the boarding house where the plot allegedly was hatched and Miss Surratt’s opinion of the boarders, the conspirators and those who she believed plotted against her mother.  The program also will discuss the aftermath of the verdict and hanging, the outpouring of support for her mother, Mary Surratt, after her execution, particularly from the Catholic Church, and the controversial role played by Judge Advocate Joseph Holt, as well as the fate of the other conspirators. 
                                                                      

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Robin Heaney

Robin is a New York attorney in private practice whose interest in history has led her to become a guest lecturer at Molloy College. She has performed at the Peekskill, NY Celebration, Yankees at Falmouth (VA) living history, and taught several courses for the Village of Rockville Centre.  She is the Civilian Coordinator and Secretary of the 14th Brooklyn Co. E Living History Association and was featured speaker at the Chambersburg Civil War Seminars. She also participates in many school and community living history programs. For further information, please contact Robin at our link above.

                                                                      To contact this speaker, click HERE 
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Joy Melcher

Joy Melcher is a historical dress designer and researcher whose fashions have appeared on stage in New York, in museums around the country and coveted by historical reenactresses.  Her 20 years of research and historical designing with an 19th approach have made her an icon in the reenacting community, reproducing period clothing for reenactors and Living History. She has served as an adviser, draper, designer and costume mistress for many professional entities including stage and film. She operates her own clothing design studio www.CivilWarLady.com.

Her credits include: The Lincoln Center, New York, NY  ~ Ford's Theater, Washington DC
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial ~ Virginia Opera, Richmond VA ~ New York City Opera, NY NY ~ Kansas State Historical Society ~ National Parks City (NPS)  ~ Smithsonian Channel ~ National Parks Service

Mrs. Melcher has collected original garments, accessories and hundreds of 19th century jewelry pieces that she presents in her programs.  "Fashion goes hand in hand with Social History" is one of her mantras and her programs encompass women's studies of the 1800's. Nearly all of the gowns featured on this website were designed expressly by Mrs. Melcher.

Joy presents: Tea with Jane Austen - The Fashionable 1860's Victorian Tea - Victorian Etiquette - Social Manners in Society - Victorian Jewelry - A Day in the Life of the 19th Century Woman - Victorian Fashions - Victorian Balls - Women's Diaries, Journals and Letters of the 19th century - all tailored to suit your event. She also makes special appearances in First Person as Queen Victoria or as one of Queen Victoria's cousins, Princess Mary Adelaide (The Duchess of Teck) for your event. 

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                                                   Joy Melcher

Joy Melcher provides your choice of an academic program for those serious in the field of women's studies or can entertain your large corporate audience with her lighthearted and intriguing programs for general audience interested in Victorian fashions. She presents luxurious Victorian Fashion Shows premiering her elegant reproduction gowns ranging from time period 1800 to 1900. She also presents programs on Victorian Tea, Victorian Jewelry and Women's Studies. Former publisher of Civil War Lady Magazine, she is author of two books; "The Victorian Woman's Cookbook" and Victorian "Etiquette for Every Occasion".  Joy conducted Women's Civil War Lady National Conferences for seven years running, speaks throughout the country on Victorian topics and is working on her next book "Dressing A Civil War Lady". She volunteers at numerous Battlefield sites and museums and serves on several boards.
                                                                  Joy can tailor a program for your event needs!
                                                                         To contact this speaker, click HERE
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Varina Davis ~ The First Lady of the Confederacy   Presenter Sandi Swift

Born a Belle on a Southern plantation, Varina was only 17 years old when she captured the heart of Jefferson Davis, an older widower who was taken with her beauty and intelligence. By the time her visit ended two months later Varina and Davis were unofficially engaged. Jefferson Davis had intended to live the life of a planter, but within just a few months of the wedding, he was nominated for a seat in the US House of Representatives.
Long interested in politics, Varina was ideally suited for the life of a politician’s wife.
Learn about Varina's triumphs and tribulations in this presentation and take a look into the life of a Southern Lady. Also available for special appearances for your event.

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                                                               Sandi Swift

Sandi Swift has worked in the St. Louis School systems for 16 years, has reenacted for over 25 years and travels throughout the country at Civil War Reenactments.  She is active in the Hibernian organization, currently a Division and State officer.  Sandi serves as President of the Irish Sister Cities Organization and is a board member of the Missouri River Irish Fest, being the chair of the Cultural events and currently their grant writer. Her love of history and remarkable resemblance to Varina Davis sparked her interest in the First Lady of the Confederacy.
                                                                                     To Contact this speaker, click HERE
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   Let us Manage your Victorian Ball or Gala Affair!
Our team has planned and hosted Victorian Balls throughout the country for over 20 years and we can assist you too!
Reenactments, Private Balls, Conference Balls, Victorian Teas and Speakers
We have successfully done it all & can do it for your event too!
Whether a small Country Dance, Elegant Grand Ball, or Civil War Reenactment, our Professional Team can do the job for a successful event with ease!
Contact us at [email protected] and put your elegant affair in to our hands

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