Costumes, festivals and battles: Medieval club revives history

The Ohio University Medieval Society is an OHIO student organization that strives to increase each member’s knowledge of the medieval period by recreating different aspects of life up to the year 1600. The history-focused club learns about medieval combat, arts and crafts, and science. Partnering with the international Society for Creative Anachronism, the group put on weekly events, combat practices and weeknight classes.

The OU Medieval Society was established in 1972, and currently has about 20 active members. Community members from outside the club sometimes join for events in addition to original members from the early years of the club.

Allison Nicoll, the organization’s president, answered some questions about the club. Nicoll is a  fourth-year special education major.

Q: What makes your organization special or unique?

​A: You will be hard-pressed to find another organization that provides opportunities to learn about such a broad range of topics. Additionally, few nonacademic organizations can connect you with people internationally for the purpose of learning and fun. There is certainly no other organization at OU that lets you participate in historical recreation.

Q: What kind of events and activities do you plan?

​A: Our biggest events are on weekends. We travel all around Ohio and beyond to events like small Renaissance fairs, but all attendees get to participate in wearing medieval clothes, taking classes, and competing in tournaments and battles. We host weekly combat practices with steel and/or rattan weapons. We also host weekly meetings, which can be social times or classes about related topics or skills like coats of arms, medieval cooking, or sewing.

Q: What are the benefits of belonging to your organization?

​A: Our organization connects you with resources like loaner medieval clothing, armor, and weapons, as well as classes and practices for free. We can arrange transportation to events all around Ohio. The biggest benefit is connecting with other members. In addition to great friends, many of our members, especially community members who have been doing this for decades, are experts in topics related to the Middle Ages.

Q: How has being a member personally benefited you or enhanced your OHIO experience?

​A: I have made most of my best friends through this organization. I have also learned many new skills like spinning wool into yarn, painting, calligraphy, embroidery, and sewing. One of my favorite parts is fighting with a rapier. There is something special about fighting with real steel swords. I also had the opportunity to research a topic (medieval coats of arms) and teach a class about it to the rest of our group.

Q: Share some of your best memories from your time as a member.

​A: I had the opportunity to go to a weeklong Renaissance fair with several members of our organization and I had the time of my life taking classes, going to balls, and fighting in battles. Our end-of-semester potluck is always a good memory because we get to celebrate our graduating seniors and get excited for the next semester.

The OU Medieval Society is active on Instagram.