Bob Learzaf

Bob Learzaf has spent the last 30 years of his life researching the 18th century…not only through an extensive study of primary sources -- books, diaries, and narratives -- but by living, hunting, and trapping in remote areas using 18th century technology and accoutrements. Bob sometimes spends weeks, even months, on these living history journeys, immersed in another time, living off the land just as many frontier traders would have lived in the backwoods of 18th century Pennsylvania. These first-hand experiences really enhance Bob’s ability to convey to students the fascinating human drama behind the days of the fur trade in North America, the kind of knowledge they rarely find in their textbooks.

	Bob Learzaf has spent the last 30 years of his life researching the 18th century…not only through an extensive study of primary sources -- books, diaries, and narratives -- but by living, hunting, and trapping in remote areas using 18th century technology and accoutrements. Bob sometimes spends weeks, even months, on these living history journeys, immersed in another time, living off the land just as many frontier traders would have lived in the backwoods of 18th century Pennsylvania. These first-hand experiences really enhance Bob’s ability to convey to students the fascinating human drama behind the days of the fur trade in North America, the kind of knowledge they rarely find in their textbooks.
As an educator/living historian, Bob began sharing his passion for the 18th century with others about 15 years ago, attending numerous historical events and period shows and making presentations to schools and community organizations throughout Western Pennsylvania. For the past 6 years, he has been working with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, serving on the educational staff at Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Le Boeuf Museum, and Bushy Run Battlefield as well as other historical sites and organizations. At Bushy Run, for example, he has served as Educational Coordinator of the annual Ohio Conference and is currently working on redoing The Trader’s Cabin, one of Bushy Run’s permanent exhibits

Trader Bob is a real pro. Through his great 18th century visuals and his interactive approach, his first-person presentations create a real window to the past and generate a lasting impact on his students, be they 6 or 60:
Contact Information Phone: 412-241-2571