Writers, Actors, Costume Designers and Set Designers may find the historical aspect of McKenna James' work of value when looking for inspiration for a character.  She looks at the intimate lives of people in the past to see what they wore, how they lived in their homes, what their communities were like, what their favorite possessions were, how they conducted their relationships, etc.  It is a particularly fun part of the services she provides.  An actual person needs to be the subject of investigation but a real person who is contemporary to a fictional one could possibly be used.