Personas



Like most children, I wanted to be many things — magician, detective, museum curator, artist, and writer, among others — and I played at being each. I grew up to be all of them and more, becoming (as one source dubbed me) “a man with a hundred faces.” I followed Thoreau’s advice: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” Others who influenced me were George Plimpton, the participatory journalist, and Ferdinand Waldo Demara, “the Great Imposter.”

I thought of myself primarily as a writer (which helped keep me from having an identity crisis!). It made sense to try on different costumes, so to speak (sometimes quite literally), in order to learn about people and the world. I have been able to view life from different windows, different perspectives, and so to learn more about myself as well. Living many lives in one, I have, in a sense, also cheated death.

Here is a selection of many of my personas — from the serious to the occasionally whimsical. I think of these displays as “scrapbook pages;” like my life, they are a work in progress.



Current number of personas: 1,066



Choose a persona's scrapbook page by clicking on its name below:

(To see the list of personas without scrapbook pages, click here)


Accident Victim
Acupuncture Patient
Advertising Copywriter
Advisory Board Member
Affiant
Alien Abduction Analyst
Alien Abduction Researcher
Alternative Medicine Critic
Alternative Newspaper Co-publisher
Amnesty Recipient
Animal Trainer for a Day
Antique Dealer
Antique Restorer
Anti-War Activist
Archeology Worker
Archer
Architectural Renderer
Archival Technician
Archives Assistant
Armed Guard
Arresting Officer
Arson Investigation Student
Art Gallery Assistant
Artist
Assassination Researcher
Asteroid Namesake
Athletic Trainer
Audiotape Reader
Aura Subject
Authenticator
Author
Autobiographer
Automatic-writing Analyst
Awardee
Backpacker
Balloon Sculptor
Balloon Passenger
Baptized Christian
Barroom Brawler
Bear-Catcher's Sidekick
Beer Master
Bibliographer
Bicentennial Chairperson
Bigfoot Hunter
Bingo Caller
Biographee
Biographer
Blackjack Dealer
Blacksmith
Blogger
Boater
Boat Passenger
Bodyguard
Book Illustrator
Bookkeeper
Book Publisher
Book Reviewer
Bottle Scholar
Bouncer
Bowler
Boy Scout
Bridegroom
Burner
Businessman
Business Partner
Calligrapher
Camp Cook
Camper
Campus Leader
Cancer Research Supporter
Canoeist
Careers Adviser
Caricaturist
Carnival Chronicler
Carousel Operator
Cartoon Character
Cemetery Records Compiler
Cereologist
Chef Trainee
Children's Author
Chupacabra Hunter
Church Bible Reader
Civil Rights Worker
Class President
Club President
Coffeehouse Co-Proprietor
Collector
Columnist
Community Organizer
Conferee
Conservationist
Conspiracy-theory Investigator
Consulting Editor
Contest Promoter
Cooper
Copy Editor
Correspondence Course Graduate
Cousin
Cover-story Subject
Cover-story Writer
Crime Historian
Crime Scene Illustrator
Crime Scene Reconstructionist
Crop Circle Iconographer
Crown & Anchor Croupier
Cruise Ship Passenger
Cryptographer
Cryptozoologist
Cupping Patient
Curator of Virtual Museum
Dean
Decipherer
Delegate
Deltiologist
Democrat
Demonstrator
Detectivologist
Diarist
Disaster-Recovery Archivist
Disguiser
Divorcé
Docent
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Specimens Compiler
Donor
Dormitory Resident Advisor
Dowsing Skeptic
Dowsing Tester
Draftsman
Editor
Electric Sign Salesman
Encyclopedia Contributor
Environmentalist
Epistemologist
Escape Artist
Etymologist
Evidence Collector
Executive Board Member
Exhibit Designer
Exile
Facebook Fan-Page Subject
Factory Worker
Fakelorist
Faith-Healing Subject
Family Man
Federal Fugitive
Fellow
Fellowship Recipient
Feminist
Fiancé
Fingerprint Recorder
Fire-Academy Instructor
Fire and Arson Investigator
Fire Challenger
Fire Inspector
First-Aider
Fishing Camp Assistant
Float Designer
Flyer Designer
Folklorist
Folksinger
Food-server
Forensic Anthropology Assistant
Forensic Illustrator
Forensic Linguist
Forensic Trainee
Forensic Writer
"Foreword Writer"
"Forger"
Forklift Driver
Fossil Collector
Fossil Hunter
Freelance Broadcaster
Freelance Writer
Friggatriskaidekaphobiologist
Ganzfeld Psi Subject
Gay Rights Supporter
Genealogical Specialist
Ghostbuster
Ghostlorist
Gilder
Glass Blowing Novice
Go-Cart Racer
Gold Prospector
Graphic Artist
Ground Observer Corpsman
Handwriting Expert
Haunting Experimenter
Herbalist
Herb Gardener
Historical Document Consultant
Historical Illustrator
Historical Interpreter
Historical Researcher
Historical Society Member
Hoax Expert
Homicide Investigator
Honorary Citizen
Hotel Desk Clerk
"Hotel Manager"
Humanist
Humanities Advisor
Iconoclast
Iconographer
Immigrant
Impersonator
Impostor
Inductee
Ink Scholar
Inventor
Investigative Historian
Jesus Scholar
Jokelorist
Jujitsu White Belt
Karate Student
Kayaker
Kentucky Colonel
Keynote Speaker
Kit Designer
Lake Monster Hunter
Layout Artist
Lecturer
Lens Polisher
Lighthouse Assistant Keeper
Lighthouse Haunting Investigator
Lincoln Scholar
Linguist
Literary Critic
Literary Detective
Literary Editor
Logo Designer
Lullaby Composer
Magazine Columnist
Magic Clown
Magic Kit Creator
Magic Pitchman
Map Illustrator
Marksman
Masqueradee
Masquerader
Master of Ceremonies
Media Interviewee
Mensa Member
Mentalist
Mentor
Microscopist
Miracle Claims Investigator
Mixologist
Monsterologist
Movie Critic
Movie Extra
Movie Subject
Muralist
Museologist
Music Critic
Namesake
Narrator
Nasca-Geoglyph Recreator
Nazi Hunter
Nephew
"Nessie" Hunter
Newspaper Columnist
Newspaper Stringer
Notary Public
Numismatist
Order Filler
Organ Grinder
Orthopedic-Surgery Patient
Outdoorsman
Package Designer
Pallbearer
Panelist
Paper Marbler
Paper Scholar
Paranormal Investigator
Parapsychologist
Park Co-Creator
Parodist
Patent Preparer
Patriot
Pen Scholar
Philatelist
Philosopher
Photo Analyst
Photograph Collector
Photographer
Photo Historian
Photo Oil-Colorist
Photo Specimens Compiler
Phrenological Subject
Pigment Compounder
Poet
Political Campaign Worker
Political Cartoonist
Popcorn Vendor
Portraitist
Portrait Subject
Posthole Digger
Poverty Program Worker
Preservationist
Presidential Supporter
Press Photographer
Printer
Printmaker
Private Investigator
Procrastinator
Profilee
Psychics' Nemesis
Publisher's Reader
Radio Guest
Recording Secretary
Refugee
Reporter
Rhabdomancer
"Ripperologist"
Riverboat Captain Trainee
Riverboat Manager
Rock Hound
ROTC Cadet
Safety Inspector
Satirist
Scholar
Science Promoter
Science Writer
Scorekeeper
Scrapbooker
Séance Conductor
Séance Participant
Secret Agent
Security Agent
Security Analyst
Security-Personnel Monitor
Sherlockian
Shipper / Receiver
Sign Carpenter
Sign Designer
Sign Painter
Simulacra Investigator
Sindonologist
Skeptic
"Skydiver"
"Sourtoe Cocktail" Drinker
"Sourtoe" Promoter
Special Needs Worker
Spelling Champion
Spelunker
"Spontaneous Human Combustion" Expert
Stage Magician
Stargazer
Steelworker
Student
Stuntman Trainee
Suicide Investigator
Superstition Expert
Surveillant
Surveying Novice
Surveyor's Chainman
Sweetheart of the FHA
Swimming Pool Attendant
Talk-Show Guest
Tavern Waiter
Teacher
Team Manager
Technical Writer
Television Program Consultant
Thespian
"Thief"
Ticket Seller
Tinsmith
Titanic Artifacts Authenticator
Toastmaster
"Torture King"
Translator
Traveling Sketch Artist
Treasure Hunter
True Crime Writer
Turin Shroud Experimenter
Typewriter Artist
Ufologist
Undercover Operative
Union Member
Vampirologist
VIP
Visiting Scholar
War Resister
Watercolorist
"Weeping" Effigy Examiner
Werewolf Researcher
Wheelchair-bound Invalid
Whitewater Rafter
Witness
Woodcarver
Woodworker
Workshop Conductor
World Traveler
Writing Implements Aficionado
Yearbook Editor
"Zombie"