The tenth annual conference and banquet of the Napoleonic Society of America (NSA) was held in the prestigious Union League Club in downtown Chicago this past September 9-11, 1994. Several hundred members, exhibitors, and general public participated in this year's event. At right: Robert Snibbe, president of the Napoleonic Society of America (left), with Ron Roberts, who told us about the thrill of Living History. Who's your tailor, Ron? Nearly thirty companies displayed products and services in the exhibit area, ranging from books and publications about the Napoleonic era, to collectibles, militaria, and games. There was even a wine tasting booth. (Most of the exhibitors are listed in the "Holiday Shopping Guide".) Proctor Jones, at right, had an impressive display for his exquisite book, Napoleon: An Intimate Account of the Years of Supremacy 1800-1814. Nine different seminars were given, including: "Military History: Genesis and Vulgar Application" by John R. Elting (author of Swords Around A Throne); "The Loves of Her Imperial Highness Pauline Bonaparte" (quite the libertine!) by Diana Browne (a New York City stage director and Napoleonic buff); and "Collecting Napoleonic Militaria" by Sheperd Paine (one of the foremost experts on the subject). Ms Browne's seminar was especially dramatic and entertaining, which is no wonder considering her background. A cocktail reception, formal banquet where NSA Literary Awards were given, and a champagne brunch were also integral parts of the conference. At right: Tim and Matthew Kirkpatrick of Kirk's Rare Coins display their wares at the 10th Annual NSA conference in Chicago. David Chandler was unable to speak at this year's conference since he is recovering from a serious heart attack and stroke. Chandler, author of Campaigns of Napoleon and dozens of other published works about the Age of Napoleon, won the NSA Literary Award for 1994. At right: The crew of Forprin Enterprises, Ken Fortune (left), Patrick Boline (center), both veterans of Russian trade and travel, discuss their museum quality imports with Dr. Frank Dennis in the exhibit hall. Two other highlights of the conference included a moderated debate called "Was Napoleon Really Poisoned on St. Helena?" and an auction of antique Napoleonic artifacts by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers of Chicago. The debate included Ben Weider who co-authored the book The Murder of Napoleon, and a forensics report by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation's crime lab on an alleged sample of Napoleon's hair taken at his death. The debate was quite lively, but inconclusive. The hair sample showed no traces of arsenic according to the F.B.I. However, proponents of the murder/conspiracy theory argued that the hair sample in question was refuted as genuine several years ago. Also, as arsenic was sometimes used as a preservative, its presence would not necessarily confirm a homicide. It may not have changed anyone's mind regarding the suspected murder of Napoleon, but the debate was quite interesting. The 11th annual conference and banquet will be held in Clearwater, Florida on September 1~17, 1995, at the Belleview Mido Resort and Hotel. The featured debate will be on Marshal Michel Ney. Was he executed after the Waterloo campaign, or did he escape to America? This was my first NSA conference, and as a veteran of dozens of trade shows, conventions, and conferences, I was favorably impressed. This is a small affair, which means that you can enjoy the three days at a leisurely pace. At right: Ed Wimble, president of Clash of Arms Games (on right) with a father and son team of Napoleonic enthusiasts. Nice gun, Ed. There was no feeling of being rushed or hurried as can happen at events where thousands of people attend. It was possible to see just about everything. The only negatives were from the aspect of being an exhibitor (Empires, Eagles & Lions and the Emperor's Headquarters had a booth in the exhibit room). A small show is nice for the attendees, but translated into low sales for some companies that incurred a substantial expense just getting to Chicago. Holding the auction at the end of the show rather than first thing on Friday might also have affected sales. Some members may have held off on purchases in the exhibit hall because they had hopes of acquiring something at the auction. These complaints don't affect the overall quality of the conference from the individual attendee's viewpoint. This is a recommended event for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era. For more information about next year's conference, and membership in the NSA, contact: The Napoleonic Society of America, 1115 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Clearwater, FL 34616. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 2 No. 9 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by Emperor's Headquarters This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com