my dear good friends I am more than pleased that I’m able to visit with thee
pleased that I’m able to visit with thee
pleased that I’m able to visit with thee but it appears I must begin with in
but it appears I must begin with in
but it appears I must begin with in apology as I look about the room Here I
apology as I look about the room Here I
apology as I look about the room Here I am finding myself in the wrong century
am finding myself in the wrong century
am finding myself in the wrong century my apologies but perhaps I shall begin
my apologies but perhaps I shall begin
my apologies but perhaps I shall begin for a moment at least owe thee a little
for a moment at least owe thee a little
for a moment at least owe thee a little bit about Who I am now most friends they
bit about Who I am now most friends they
bit about Who I am now most friends they shall remember me by the name Betsy Ross
shall remember me by the name Betsy Ross
shall remember me by the name Betsy Ross and they know me for making the flag of
and they know me for making the flag of
and they know me for making the flag of the United States of America wasn’t the
the United States of America wasn’t the
the United States of America wasn’t the first flag of our new nation I know not
first flag of our new nation I know not
first flag of our new nation I know not if that is true but I do know it was not
if that is true but I do know it was not
if that is true but I do know it was not the first time I had sown for Washington
the first time I had sown for Washington
the first time I had sown for Washington oh no I had already made bed hangings
oh no I had already made bed hangings
oh no I had already made bed hangings and bids for Washington all the goods of
and bids for Washington all the goods of
and bids for Washington all the goods of my trade as an upholsterer Washington
my trade as an upholsterer Washington
my trade as an upholsterer Washington knew my skill with my needle he trusted
knew my skill with my needle he trusted
knew my skill with my needle he trusted me to make a flag against England I was
me to make a flag against England I was
me to make a flag against England I was 24 years old at the time I am ever so
24 years old at the time I am ever so
24 years old at the time I am ever so much more than 24 now I am no longer
much more than 24 now I am no longer
much more than 24 now I am no longer called by the name Betsy Ross I am known
called by the name Betsy Ross I am known
called by the name Betsy Ross I am known as Betsy Claypool it is my third
as Betsy Claypool it is my third
as Betsy Claypool it is my third husband’s name but if I were to cross
husband’s name but if I were to cross
husband’s name but if I were to cross the centuries
the centuries
the centuries I am also known by another name and that
I am also known by another name and that
I am also known by another name and that name well that names perils faked
name well that names perils faked
name well that names perils faked I am a first-person interpreter I am a
I am a first-person interpreter I am a
I am a first-person interpreter I am a storyteller who makes history come alive
storyteller who makes history come alive
storyteller who makes history come alive by being Betsy now let me explain every
by being Betsy now let me explain every
by being Betsy now let me explain every year almost two hundred thousand people
year almost two hundred thousand people
year almost two hundred thousand people from across the world are going to visit
from across the world are going to visit
from across the world are going to visit the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia
the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia
the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia they all want to learn about the flag of
they all want to learn about the flag of
they all want to learn about the flag of the United States of America and they
the United States of America and they
the United States of America and they all want to meet let’s say why where
all want to meet let’s say why where
all want to meet let’s say why where does the appeal of meeting a person from
does the appeal of meeting a person from
does the appeal of meeting a person from the past come from I mean do we blame it
the past come from I mean do we blame it
the past come from I mean do we blame it on the musical Hamilton please I hope
on the musical Hamilton please I hope
on the musical Hamilton please I hope not no the reality is that many many
not no the reality is that many many
not no the reality is that many many people are fascinated by the past they
people are fascinated by the past they
people are fascinated by the past they want to know about the good old days
want to know about the good old days
want to know about the good old days which really weren’t so good I mean do
which really weren’t so good I mean do
which really weren’t so good I mean do you like nice clean clothes well then
you like nice clean clothes well then
you like nice clean clothes well then try bleaching them with your end well
try bleaching them with your end well
try bleaching them with your end well preferably your own are you feeling
preferably your own are you feeling
preferably your own are you feeling under the weather today maybe the doctor
under the weather today maybe the doctor
under the weather today maybe the doctor will bleed you with leeches it’s
will bleed you with leeches it’s
will bleed you with leeches it’s surprising anyone survived the good old
surprising anyone survived the good old
surprising anyone survived the good old days but the past the past intrigues us
days but the past the past intrigues us
days but the past the past intrigues us so what does it mean to be a person from
so what does it mean to be a person from
so what does it mean to be a person from the past sometimes it’s easier to
the past sometimes it’s easier to
the past sometimes it’s easier to explain what a first-person interpreter
explain what a first-person interpreter
explain what a first-person interpreter is by explaining what a first-person
is by explaining what a first-person
is by explaining what a first-person interpreter is not or at least what we
interpreter is not or at least what we
interpreter is not or at least what we don’t want people to think we are
don’t want people to think we are
don’t want people to think we are first-person interpreter historic
first-person interpreter historic
first-person interpreter historic interpreter character interpreter all
interpreter character interpreter all
interpreter character interpreter all these names are pretty much
these names are pretty much
these names are pretty much interchangeable but please don’t call us
interchangeable but please don’t call us
interchangeable but please don’t call us impersonators leave that for Elvis well
impersonators leave that for Elvis well
impersonators leave that for Elvis well an impersonator is going to be an
an impersonator is going to be an
an impersonator is going to be an entertainer an interpreter is going to
entertainer an interpreter is going to
entertainer an interpreter is going to be an educator not that an interpreter
be an educator not that an interpreter
be an educator not that an interpreter should be a boring presentation no no
should be a boring presentation no no
should be a boring presentation no no but we don’t want to be considered as
but we don’t want to be considered as
but we don’t want to be considered as merely look-alikes who are nothing more
merely look-alikes who are nothing more
merely look-alikes who are nothing more than window dressing although
than window dressing although
than window dressing although if a first-person interpreter does look
if a first-person interpreter does look
if a first-person interpreter does look like the person they’re portraying
like the person they’re portraying
like the person they’re portraying that’s a bonus and i know three benjamin
that’s a bonus and i know three benjamin
that’s a bonus and i know three benjamin franklin’s who look like his portrait on
franklin’s who look like his portrait on
franklin’s who look like his portrait on the hundred dollar bill but no
the hundred dollar bill but no
the hundred dollar bill but no documented portrait of Betsy Ross exists
documented portrait of Betsy Ross exists
documented portrait of Betsy Ross exists we don’t know what she looked like
we don’t know what she looked like
we don’t know what she looked like family tradition says her eyes were blue
family tradition says her eyes were blue
family tradition says her eyes were blue and she was nicknamed the little rebel
and she was nicknamed the little rebel
and she was nicknamed the little rebel my eyes are blue and you don’t get much
my eyes are blue and you don’t get much
my eyes are blue and you don’t get much smaller than I am but there are also
smaller than I am but there are also
smaller than I am but there are also some people who seem to think that Betsy
some people who seem to think that Betsy
some people who seem to think that Betsy Ross isn’t a real person they think she
Ross isn’t a real person they think she
Ross isn’t a real person they think she didn’t exist and really she’s only a
didn’t exist and really she’s only a
didn’t exist and really she’s only a myth that is not true Betsy was born in
myth that is not true Betsy was born in
myth that is not true Betsy was born in 1752 she made bed curtains for George
1752 she made bed curtains for George
1752 she made bed curtains for George Washington in 1774 and musket cartridges
Washington in 1774 and musket cartridges
Washington in 1774 and musket cartridges for those guns of the Continental Army
for those guns of the Continental Army
for those guns of the Continental Army in 1777 Betsy was a real woman so a
in 1777 Betsy was a real woman so a
in 1777 Betsy was a real woman so a historic interpreter is going to
historic interpreter is going to
historic interpreter is going to research a real person from the past and
research a real person from the past and
research a real person from the past and they’re going to share the perspective
they’re going to share the perspective
they’re going to share the perspective of that person to educate the public yes
of that person to educate the public yes
of that person to educate the public yes we want to dress like the person we want
we want to dress like the person we want
we want to dress like the person we want to speak like the person we want to
to speak like the person we want to
to speak like the person we want to behave the mannerisms of that person if
behave the mannerisms of that person if
behave the mannerisms of that person if they’re known but if they’re not known
they’re known but if they’re not known
they’re known but if they’re not known we’re going to fill in the gaps with
we’re going to fill in the gaps with
we’re going to fill in the gaps with what is historically known about people
what is historically known about people
what is historically known about people from that time plausible possibilities
from that time plausible possibilities
from that time plausible possibilities but a first-person interpreter can never
but a first-person interpreter can never
but a first-person interpreter can never be another person nobody can ever be
be another person nobody can ever be
be another person nobody can ever be another person thankfully we’re going to
another person thankfully we’re going to
another person thankfully we’re going to be interpreting a person from the past
be interpreting a person from the past
be interpreting a person from the past to give an experience of living history
to give an experience of living history
to give an experience of living history it’s an experience of what if
it’s an experience of what if
it’s an experience of what if what if you had a chance to talk to
what if you had a chance to talk to
what if you had a chance to talk to George Washington to Benjamin Franklin
George Washington to Benjamin Franklin
George Washington to Benjamin Franklin to Betsy Ross what would you ask them
to Betsy Ross what would you ask them
to Betsy Ross what would you ask them people ask me lots of questions when I’m
people ask me lots of questions when I’m
people ask me lots of questions when I’m portraying Betsy I’ve helped to identify
portraying Betsy I’ve helped to identify
portraying Betsy I’ve helped to identify the most frequently asked questions
the most frequently asked questions
the most frequently asked questions there are more than 75 questions that’s
there are more than 75 questions that’s
there are more than 75 questions that’s because people are curious about the
because people are curious about the
because people are curious about the past I’d mind you I’m not afraid to
past I’d mind you I’m not afraid to
past I’d mind you I’m not afraid to answer their questions even personal
answer their questions even personal
answer their questions even personal questions as Betsy wasn’t it against
questions as Betsy wasn’t it against
questions as Betsy wasn’t it against your Quaker faith to make a flag yes but
your Quaker faith to make a flag yes but
your Quaker faith to make a flag yes but was also treason against England how did
was also treason against England how did
was also treason against England how did your husband die which which has been
how could a woman own her own shop I was
how could a woman own her own shop I was a widow and therefore all choices were
a widow and therefore all choices were
a widow and therefore all choices were legally my own when we imaginatively
legally my own when we imaginatively
legally my own when we imaginatively encounter a person from the past
encounter a person from the past
encounter a person from the past we often consciously or subconsciously
we often consciously or subconsciously
we often consciously or subconsciously compare ourselves to the attributes and
compare ourselves to the attributes and
compare ourselves to the attributes and the accomplishments of that person would
the accomplishments of that person would
the accomplishments of that person would I be as brave would bite I be as
I be as brave would bite I be as
I be as brave would bite I be as courageous when I make the same choices
courageous when I make the same choices
courageous when I make the same choices could I make better choices by the end
could I make better choices by the end
could I make better choices by the end of her life Betsy was blind not NIF
of her life Betsy was blind not NIF
of her life Betsy was blind not NIF truth she had made hundreds of flags
truth she had made hundreds of flags
truth she had made hundreds of flags truth not myth
truth not myth
truth not myth it’s always very special to me when
it’s always very special to me when
it’s always very special to me when people with visual impairments will
people with visual impairments will
people with visual impairments will visit Betsy’s upholstery shop I
visit Betsy’s upholstery shop I
visit Betsy’s upholstery shop I encourage them to touch the cloth that’s
encourage them to touch the cloth that’s
encourage them to touch the cloth that’s going to be sewn into a flag or bed
going to be sewn into a flag or bed
going to be sewn into a flag or bed hangings and to feel the fibers from
hangings and to feel the fibers from
hangings and to feel the fibers from which that cloth is made a tangible
which that cloth is made a tangible
which that cloth is made a tangible experience of history that transcends
experience of history that transcends
experience of history that transcends the boundaries of time and place
the boundaries of time and place
the boundaries of time and place now many families with children are
now many families with children are
now many families with children are going to visit Betsy and the children
going to visit Betsy and the children
going to visit Betsy and the children are very often studying about Betsy
are very often studying about Betsy
are very often studying about Betsy Russell school they’re writing reports
Russell school they’re writing reports
Russell school they’re writing reports they’re even portraying Betsy and
they’re even portraying Betsy and
they’re even portraying Betsy and biographical wax museums I remember one
biographical wax museums I remember one
biographical wax museums I remember one particular mother who came to visit with
particular mother who came to visit with
particular mother who came to visit with her two young daughters so eight years
her two young daughters so eight years
her two young daughters so eight years old
old
old ten years old and at this age the
ten years old and at this age the
ten years old and at this age the children are in awe of meeting somebody
children are in awe of meeting somebody
children are in awe of meeting somebody that they are learning about in school
that they are learning about in school
that they are learning about in school and these young girls were no different
and these young girls were no different
and these young girls were no different Betsy began to tell her story about
Betsy began to tell her story about
Betsy began to tell her story about making a flag a family story an oral
making a flag a family story an oral
making a flag a family story an oral tradition that has been passed down
tradition that has been passed down
tradition that has been passed down through generations that’s he asked a
through generations that’s he asked a
through generations that’s he asked a simple question does the knew the name
simple question does the knew the name
simple question does the knew the name of the man who wanted me to make a flag
of the man who wanted me to make a flag
of the man who wanted me to make a flag now the girls hesitated it was quite
now the girls hesitated it was quite
now the girls hesitated it was quite obvious from their expressions if they
obvious from their expressions if they
obvious from their expressions if they were entirely involved but they were not
were entirely involved but they were not
were entirely involved but they were not so sure what to think about this small
so sure what to think about this small
so sure what to think about this small woman dressed in unusual clothing and
woman dressed in unusual clothing and
woman dressed in unusual clothing and speaking with those unfamiliar words the
speaking with those unfamiliar words the
speaking with those unfamiliar words the vowels I instead of you and you’re the
vowels I instead of you and you’re the
vowels I instead of you and you’re the mother where she looked at her daughters
mother where she looked at her daughters
mother where she looked at her daughters and she realized that they were
and she realized that they were
and she realized that they were awestruck but with some encouragement
awestruck but with some encouragement
awestruck but with some encouragement they remembered the name who the man who
they remembered the name who the man who
they remembered the name who the man who would later be our first President of
would later be our first President of
would later be our first President of the United States why this Trez indeed
the United States why this Trez indeed
the United States why this Trez indeed George Washington who would it me to
George Washington who would it me to
George Washington who would it me to bake a flag yeah and then Betsy unfurled
bake a flag yeah and then Betsy unfurled
bake a flag yeah and then Betsy unfurled the flag giving each girl a corner to
the flag giving each girl a corner to
the flag giving each girl a corner to hold does they know the number
hold does they know the number
hold does they know the number of stripes upon the flag a small voice
of stripes upon the flag a small voice
of stripes upon the flag a small voice answered 12 the mother groaned she was a
answered 12 the mother groaned she was a
answered 12 the mother groaned she was a little bit embarrassed well perhaps it
little bit embarrassed well perhaps it
little bit embarrassed well perhaps it should be best if we count the stripes
should be best if we count the stripes
should be best if we count the stripes together and Counting with Betsy the
together and Counting with Betsy the
together and Counting with Betsy the proper number of stripes were soon
proper number of stripes were soon
proper number of stripes were soon determined yes there are 13 stripes one
determined yes there are 13 stripes one
determined yes there are 13 stripes one for each of the 13 colonies and then
for each of the 13 colonies and then
for each of the 13 colonies and then very soon those girls became eager
very soon those girls became eager
very soon those girls became eager participants in Betsy’s story as she
participants in Betsy’s story as she
participants in Betsy’s story as she began to tell them about the stars of
began to tell them about the stars of
began to tell them about the stars of the flag I shall lay no claim to having
the flag I shall lay no claim to having
the flag I shall lay no claim to having designed the flag of the United States I
designed the flag of the United States I
designed the flag of the United States I did not choose the 13 stars or the 13
did not choose the 13 stars or the 13
did not choose the 13 stars or the 13 stripes Washington brought it rolling
stripes Washington brought it rolling
stripes Washington brought it rolling but I did indeed change the Stars
but I did indeed change the Stars
but I did indeed change the Stars Washington had wondered six pointed
Washington had wondered six pointed
Washington had wondered six pointed stars upon the flag yet I told him a
stars upon the flag yet I told him a
stars upon the flag yet I told him a five-pointed star would be better and
five-pointed star would be better and
five-pointed star would be better and then showed him that I would be able to
then showed him that I would be able to
then showed him that I would be able to make a five pointed star so simply so
make a five pointed star so simply so
make a five pointed star so simply so easily with only several folds to my
easily with only several folds to my
easily with only several folds to my cloth as I’ve just done with his bit of
cloth as I’ve just done with his bit of
cloth as I’ve just done with his bit of paper and when all is completed I shall
paper and when all is completed I shall
paper and when all is completed I shall snip that cloth but once and a star
snip that cloth but once and a star
snip that cloth but once and a star shall surely be created children which
shall surely be created children which
shall surely be created children which is my contribution woman’s contribution
is my contribution woman’s contribution
is my contribution woman’s contribution to the flag take it home and let
to the flag take it home and let
to the flag take it home and let everyone know – as Betsy who gave it to
everyone know – as Betsy who gave it to
everyone know – as Betsy who gave it to them
now you have to understand as an
now you have to understand as an interpreter I am really going to know
interpreter I am really going to know
interpreter I am really going to know what happens after people encounter
what happens after people encounter
what happens after people encounter Betsy in her shop I always hope that I
Betsy in her shop I always hope that I
Betsy in her shop I always hope that I have opened the door to the past in
have opened the door to the past in
have opened the door to the past in people’s minds and that they’re going to
people’s minds and that they’re going to
people’s minds and that they’re going to think a little bit differently about
think a little bit differently about
think a little bit differently about what it would have been like to live in
what it would have been like to live in
what it would have been like to live in another time and when it comes to
another time and when it comes to
another time and when it comes to children who are experiencing living
children who are experiencing living
children who are experiencing living history I hope that parents and teachers
history I hope that parents and teachers
history I hope that parents and teachers are going to use that open door as a
are going to use that open door as a
are going to use that open door as a springboard to further discussion
springboard to further discussion
springboard to further discussion discussion about important issues how
discussion about important issues how
discussion about important issues how hard it is to stand up and make choices
hard it is to stand up and make choices
hard it is to stand up and make choices that you believe in how difficult it was
that you believe in how difficult it was
that you believe in how difficult it was and can be for women to live and work
and can be for women to live and work
and can be for women to live and work independently what the flag symbolizes
independently what the flag symbolizes
independently what the flag symbolizes to the citizens of a free country
to the citizens of a free country
to the citizens of a free country important discussions now for those two
important discussions now for those two
important discussions now for those two young girls in my story the ones who
young girls in my story the ones who
young girls in my story the ones who said that there were 12 stripes on the
said that there were 12 stripes on the
said that there were 12 stripes on the flag I’m fairly sure those discussions
flag I’m fairly sure those discussions
flag I’m fairly sure those discussions occurred afterwards because you might
occurred afterwards because you might
occurred afterwards because you might recognize the name of their mother
recognize the name of their mother
recognize the name of their mother Michelle Obama
but truthfully it wasn’t her role at
but truthfully it wasn’t her role at that time as the First Lady of the
that time as the First Lady of the
that time as the First Lady of the United States that’s important to the
United States that’s important to the
United States that’s important to the story what is important that our mother
story what is important that our mother
story what is important that our mother and her daughter’s like thousands of
and her daughter’s like thousands of
and her daughter’s like thousands of other people who experience living
other people who experience living
other people who experience living history had a personal encounter with
history had a personal encounter with
history had a personal encounter with the past and for one small moment of
the past and for one small moment of
the past and for one small moment of time the past became real by meeting
time the past became real by meeting
time the past became real by meeting that same our perspectives change when
that same our perspectives change when
that same our perspectives change when we experience the stories of the past we
we experience the stories of the past we
we experience the stories of the past we begin to own our history how does the
begin to own our history how does the
begin to own our history how does the past relate to me my responsibility as a
past relate to me my responsibility as a
past relate to me my responsibility as a first person interpreter is to spark the
first person interpreter is to spark the
first person interpreter is to spark the fire hoping others will fan the flame so
fire hoping others will fan the flame so
fire hoping others will fan the flame so the warmth of that fire will spread
the warmth of that fire will spread
the warmth of that fire will spread through the mists of time sometimes as I
through the mists of time sometimes as I
through the mists of time sometimes as I shall be in my shop suing I cannot help
shall be in my shop suing I cannot help
shall be in my shop suing I cannot help but to dream about what our nation shall
but to dream about what our nation shall
but to dream about what our nation shall be like in the future I do hope all
be like in the future I do hope all
be like in the future I do hope all those friends will always respect the
those friends will always respect the
those friends will always respect the flag for it is indeed a symbol of
flag for it is indeed a symbol of
flag for it is indeed a symbol of freedom sown with sacrifice I have told
freedom sown with sacrifice I have told
freedom sown with sacrifice I have told my story to my children I now tell my
my story to my children I now tell my
my story to my children I now tell my story to my grandchildren who shall my
story to my grandchildren who shall my
story to my grandchildren who shall my grandchildren – I do not know
but I do know that when the stories of
but I do know that when the stories of the past and the people of the past
the past and the people of the past
the past and the people of the past become personal to us then they become
become personal to us then they become
become personal to us then they become real to us and relevant to our lives
real to us and relevant to our lives
real to us and relevant to our lives it’s only when we understand the past
it’s only when we understand the past
it’s only when we understand the past that the past will begin to enlighten
that the past will begin to enlighten
that the past will begin to enlighten our future and I shall indeed be the
our future and I shall indeed be the
our future and I shall indeed be the peace good friends
peace good friends
peace good friends [Applause]
”
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