DOCSLIB.ORG

The New Social History: Implications for Archivists

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

388 American Archivist / Vol. 48, No. 4 / Fall 1985 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/48/4/388/2747302/aarc_48_4_l107660916858k13.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 The New Social History: Implications for Archivists DALE C. MAYER Abstract: According to a recent survey by the Organization of American Historians, the fastest growing field of historical research is social history. Although many social historians use computers, this is not the most significant feature of the New Social History (NSH). More important implications for archivists and manuscripts curators arise from the use of new kinds of source materials and from a new approach to social inquiry and interpretation. Archivists who have attempted to respond to the challenges posed by NSH have tended to attack the problem piecemeal, dealing only with isolated aspects. Recognizing the highly interactive nature of archival functions, this study provides an overview of NSH's impact on all major aspects of archival practice and management. Traditional archival concerns such as solicitation strategies, appraisal criteria, provenance, and arrangement and description options are re-examined to assess the impact of NSH, point out some serious implications for archivists, and provide a starting point for institutional self-assessments and in- tegrated planning. About the Author: Dale C. Mayer is an archivist at the Hoover Presidential Library where he supervises arrangement and description projects including the presidential papers of Herbert Hoover and, currently, the papers of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. He has an undergraduate degree in education and received anM.A. in history from the University of Michigan in 1963. A former high school history teacher and part-time instructor of history at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he became a National Archives staff member in 1969. He is a member of SAA and the Midwest A rchives Conference (MA C) and was a co-founder of the Iowa Historical Materials Preservation Society (IHMPS). During IHMPS's formative years, Mayer was a member of Council and also served several terms as program chairman and vice-president. In 1981 he was named to the American Library Association's Who's Who in Library and Information Services. He has been a frequent speaker at meetings of MAC, IHMPS, and other professional organizations. The New Social History 389 Introduction searched. One can also point to such MORE THAN FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED developments as the in-service training since the Journal of American History workshops for high school teachers called attention to the fact that a new ap- which Peter Stearns and Mildred Alpern Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/48/4/388/2747302/aarc_48_4_l107660916858k13.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 proach to the writing of social history, have conducted for the past several years utilizing computer assisted statistical at the Carnegie-Mellon Institute. Perhaps analysis, had become most popular an even more significant indicator lies in among doctoral candidates. In its report College Board tests which now routinely on new dissertations, the Journal pointed include questions designed to assess NSH out that more Ph.D. candidates had awareness and interpretative skills. chosen social history topics than any Clearly NSH has arrived as a signifi- other area. The combined number of cant research trend worthy of response dissertations in the traditional fields of from the archival community. Archivists economic, political, diplomatic, and and manuscripts curators ought to be military history barely exceeded those in very concerned about this major shift in social history by the narrow margin of the research interests and techniques of a 214 to 203.' large segment of their clientele. The prob- Another indication that this new ap- lem is to determine what kinds of proach or New Social History (NSH) is responses are possible and desirable. thriving may be found in the prolifera- In addressing this problem, archivists tion of journals devoted exclusively to are obliged to examine all areas of ar- social history phenomena. No less than a chival practice and management for these dozen are being published with such areas are inextricably linked in a manner familiar titles as Social History, Journal that is often highly interactive. For exam- of Ethnic Studies, Social Forces, and ple, decisions made while appraising and Journal of Family History. Another arranging collections often have signifi- dozen are devoted to the history of cant implications for subsequent ac- blacks, women, and agriculture. Even the tivities such as description and reference. traditionally-oriented Journal of Ameri- Thus it does not seem advisable to focus can History and American Historical on one or two isolated areas of practice Review have been publishing NSH ar- or management. What is needed, rather, ticles with increasing frequency, and ad- is an overview of all aspects of archival ditional articles on social history and an- practice and management. This is the on- nouncements concerning social history ly way to appreciate the full significance conferences and workshops appear in of the challenges inherent in NSH. almost every issue of the AHA News- A detailed analysis of NSH's impact letter. Furthermore, the titles of recent on historical methodology is beyond the dissertations, articles, and conference scope and intent of this discussion, but a papers clearly indicate that NSH disciples brief summary of some of the more im- have taken over the field of social portant contrasts between the traditional history. approach to social history and NSH These developments suggest that NSH seems appropriate as a basis for the has already achieved a great deal of ac- remarks that follow. Table 1 may be used ceptance within the historical community to facilitate these comparisons and to and that it has already influenced the way suggest some challenging implications for in which history is being taught and re- archivists. "'Recent Dissertations," Journal of American History 68 (December 1979): 774-783. 390 American Archivist / Fall 1985 TABLE 1 COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL HISTORY AND NEW SOCIAL HISTORY Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/48/4/388/2747302/aarc_48_4_l107660916858k13.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 Traditional Approaches to History New Social History Approach Contributions of leaders, great Ordinary people in groups; men, and elites ("classes"). changes in their environment, customs, values, status, economic well-being, and the in- stitutions they set up ("masses"). Usually focused on a specific inci- Focused on changes over a period dent, issue, or time period. of time. End product is based primarily on Systematic use of quantifiable literary sources such as corre- data that can be interpreted spondence or diaries. satistically. Narrative, descriptive accounts. Studies the structure and process May be a bit intuitive or impres- of societal change to produce ac- sionistic. counts that are analytic and com- parative. Immigration history from the Stresses resistance to assimila- perspective of the "melting pot." tion, self-assertiveness, and con- Stresses assimilation of groups flict with mainstream. Persistence and their efforts to get along in a of ethnic culture regarded as an new environment. Accomoda- important measure of the "suc- tionist. Shows influence of cess" of a group. Often praises Frederick Jackson Turner and cultural pluralism, but some William A. Beard who stressed awareness of danger in un-critical rapidity of assimilation and how acceptance of all cultural traits. the result was better for all. In- dians and Mexicans sometimes seen as being obstacles to pro- gress and given short shrift. Themes include political, Group experiences, intergroup economic, military, diplomatic, conflicts, intrafamily and in- and traditional approaches to tragroup relationships, social cultural and social history. In- mobility, community structure, terest in groups confined to voting cultural landscapes, and regional behavior and labor union activity studies. and growth. Fields of investigation growing Fields still evolving at rapid rate (generally in a chronological with new areas being opened up scheme, i.e., recent diplomatic, all the time. Considerable interest political, military history) but fairly in examining interrelationships well established in contrast to between the principle themes NSH. especially in cases of labor, fami- ly, and women's history. The New Social History 391 NSH involves several new approaches chival activity is affected, especially if ar- to historical research and utilizes new chivists view their professional respon- kinds of source materials along with an sibilities in connection with the life cycle entirely new orientation which em- of a document from the point of its crea- Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/48/4/388/2747302/aarc_48_4_l107660916858k13.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 phasizes "history from the bottom up." tion on through solicitation, appraisal, New social historians are not interested in preservation, arrangement, and reference the extraordinary accomplishments of a service. In each instance managers face few, but in the common, everyday strug- challenges that cannot be ignored without gles and experiences of groups of or- detriment to the long range welfare and dinary people. Cultural assimilation does professional
Recommended publications
  • Impossible, Yet Real! 187

    Impossible, Yet Real! 187

    CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL ISBN 978-3-89975-251-9 CULTURA CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE CULTURA AND AXIOLOGY Founded in 2004, Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy 2011 of Culture and Axiology is a semiannual peer-reviewed jour- 1 2011 Vol VIII No 1 nal devoted to philosophy of culture and the study of value. It aims to promote the exploration of different values and cultural phenomena in regional and international contexts. The editorial board encourages the submission of manuscripts based on original research that are judged to make a novel and important contribution to understanding the values and cultural phenomena in the contemporary world. CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY CULTURE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL CULTURA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF CULTURE AND AXIOLOGY Cultura. International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology E-ISSN (Online): 2065-5002 (Published online by Versita, Solipska 14A/1, 02-482 Warsaw, Poland) ISSN (Print): 1584-1057 Advisory Board Prof.
  • Historians of Technology in the Real World: Reflections on the Pursuit of Policy-Oriented History

    Historians of Technology in the Real World: Reflections on the Pursuit of Policy-Oriented History

    Historians of Technology in the Real World: Reflections on the Pursuit of Policy-Oriented History Richard F. Hirsh Technology and Culture, Volume 52, Number 1, January 2011, pp. 6-20 (Article) Published by The Johns Hopkins University Press DOI: 10.1353/tech.2011.0039 For additional information about this article http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tech/summary/v052/52.1.hirsh.html Access provided by Virginia Polytechnic Inst. __ACCESS_STATEMENT__ St.University __ACCESS_STATEMENT__ (Viva) (6 Feb 2014 13:11 GMT) 02_52.1hirsh 6–20:03_49.3dobraszczyk 568– 1/22/11 7:49 AM Page 6 Historians of Technology in the Real World Reflections on the Pursuit of Policy-Oriented History RICHARDF.HIRSH Nearly all historians writing about their craft begin by explaining the value of studying the past. According to the authors of a popular primer, history represents a collective memory that provides an awareness of past events, helping us shape our present and future.1 History has great practical signif- icance, notes another academic, because “intelligent action” draws on past experience.2 As a consequence of the way pedagogues extol the relevance of their work, many high-school students can paraphrase Santayana’s dictum that “[t]hose who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”3 Despite widespread acceptance of the notion that history provides tan- gible benefits, historians usually remain reluctant to apply “lessons” to real- world situations, especially in the realms of public and business policy. Eager to be viewed as unbiased, dispassionate observers of events, most aca- demic historians seem happy to write primarily for their peers.
  • Social History Would Be Termed ‘Social Geography’ There Has Been Too Jones E 1975 Readings in Social Geography

    Social History Would Be Termed ‘Social Geography’ There Has Been Too Jones E 1975 Readings in Social Geography

    Social History would be termed ‘social geography’ there has been too Jones E 1975 Readings in Social Geography. Oxford University little interaction between those researchers working on Press, Oxford, UK developing and developed countries. There are, how- Johnston R J 1987 Theory and methodology in social geo- ever, some indications that this is changing with graphy. In: Pacione M (ed.) Social Geography: Progress and Prospect. Croom Helm, London greater appreciation of the implications of the globali- Johnston R L, Gregory D, Smith D M 1994 The Dictionary of zation of communication and economic relationships Human Geography, 3rd edn. Blackwell, Oxford, UK and the significance of diasporic cultures. Meinig D (ed.) 1979 The Interpretation of Ordinary Landscapes. For many social geographers the growth of cultural Oxford University Press, New York geography presents an opportunity to combine many Pahl R 1965 Trends in social geography. In: Chorley R J, of the themes of the two sub-disciplines in fruitful Haggett P (eds.) Frontiers in Geographical Teaching. Methuen, investigation of social inequality and difference and to London focus on and destabilize definitions of a wider range of Pahl 1975 Whose City? 2nd edn. Penguin, Harmondsworth, UK ‘social groups’—such as disabled people and gay and Rex J 1968 The sociology of a zone in transition. In: Pahl R E (ed.) Readings in Urban Sociology. Pergamon Press, Oxford, lesbian people. Social geographers’ tradition of pol- UK itical engagement and ethnographic research can Smith D 1977 Human Geography: A Welfare Approach. Edward combine positively with cultural geographers’ sen- Arnold, New York sitivity to discourse and symbolic expression of dif- Shevky E, Bell W 1955 Social Area Analysis.
  • This Thesis Comes Within Category D

    This Thesis Comes Within Category D

    * SHL ITEM BARCODE 19 1721901 5 REFERENCE ONLY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON THESIS Degree Year i ^Loo 0 Name of Author COPYRIGHT This Is a thesis accepted for a Higher Degree of the University of London, it is an unpubfished typescript and the copyright is held by the author. All persons consulting the thesis must read and abide by the Copyright Declaration below. COPYRIGHT DECLARATION I recognise that the copyright of the above-described thesis rests with the author and that no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author. LOANS Theses may not be lent to individuals, but the Senate House Library may lend a copy to approved libraries within the United Kingdom, for consultation solely on the .premises of those libraries. Application should be made to: Inter-Library Loans, Senate House Library, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. REPRODUCTION University of London theses may not be reproduced without explicit written permission from the Senate House Library. Enquiries should be addressed to the Theses Section of the Library. Regulations concerning reproduction vary according to the date of acceptance of the thesis and are listed below as guidelines. A. Before 1962. Permission granted only upon the prior written consent of the author. (The Senate House Library will provide addresses where possible). B. 1962 -1974. In many cases the author has agreed to permit copying upon completion of a Copyright Declaration. C. 1975 -1988. Most theses may be copied upon completion of a Copyright Declaration. D. 1989 onwards. Most theses may be copied.
  • Revisiting Zero Hour 1945

    Revisiting Zero Hour 1945

    REVISITING ZERO-HOUR 1945 THE EMERGENCE OF POSTWAR GERMAN CULTURE edited by STEPHEN BROCKMANN FRANK TROMMLER VOLUME 1 American Institute for Contemporary German Studies The Johns Hopkins University REVISITING ZERO-HOUR 1945 THE EMERGENCE OF POSTWAR GERMAN CULTURE edited by STEPHEN BROCKMANN FRANK TROMMLER HUMANITIES PROGRAM REPORT VOLUME 1 The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) alone. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies. ©1996 by the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies ISBN 0-941441-15-1 This Humanities Program Volume is made possible by the Harry & Helen Gray Humanities Program. Additional copies are available for $5.00 to cover postage and handling from the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Suite 420, 1400 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-2217. Telephone 202/332-9312, Fax 202/265- 9531, E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.aicgs.org ii F O R E W O R D Since its inception, AICGS has incorporated the study of German literature and culture as a part of its mandate to help provide a comprehensive understanding of contemporary Germany. The nature of Germany’s past and present requires nothing less than an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of German society and culture. Within its research and public affairs programs, the analysis of Germany’s intellectual and cultural traditions and debates has always been central to the Institute’s work. At the time the Berlin Wall was about to fall, the Institute was awarded a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to help create an endowment for its humanities programs.
  • Brigitte Bailer-Galanda “Revisionism”1 in Germany and Austria: the Evolution of a Doctrine

    Brigitte Bailer-Galanda “Revisionism”1 in Germany and Austria: the Evolution of a Doctrine

    www.doew.at Brigitte Bailer-Galanda “Revisionism”1 in Germany and Austria: The Evolution of a Doctrine Published in: Hermann Kurthen/Rainer Erb/Werner Bergmann (ed.), Anti-Sem- itism and Xenophobia in Germany after Unification, New York–Oxford 1997 Development of “revisionism” since 1945 Most people understand so called „revisionism“ as just another word for the movement of holocaust denial (Benz 1994; Lipstadt 1993; Shapiro 1990). Therefore it was suggested lately to use the word „negationism“ instead. How- ever in the author‘s point of view „revisionism“ covers some more topics than just the denying of the National Socialist mass murders. Especially in Germany and Austria there are some more points of National Socialist politics some people have tried to minimize or apologize since 1945, e. g. the responsibility for World War II, the attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 (quite a modern topic), (the discussion) about the number of the victims of the holocaust a. s. o.. In the seventies the late historian Martin Broszat already called that movement „run- ning amok against reality“ (Broszat 1976). These pseudo-historical writers, many of them just right wing extremist publishers or people who quite rapidly turned to right wing extremists, really try to prove that history has not taken place, just as if they were able to make events undone by denying them. A conception of “negationism” (Auerbach 1993a; Fromm and Kernbach 1994, p. 9; Landesamt für Verfassungsschutz 1994) or “holocaust denial” (Lipstadt 1993, p. 20) would neglect the additional components of “revision- ism”, which are logically connected with the denying of the holocaust, this being the extreme variant.
  • FOR PROMOTING a DEMOCRATIC CULTURE of DEBATE Media Professionals' Handling of Anti-Democratic Populism

    FOR PROMOTING a DEMOCRATIC CULTURE of DEBATE Media Professionals' Handling of Anti-Democratic Populism

    IN COOPERATION WITH COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCES FOR PROMOTING A DEMOCRATIC CULTURE OF DEBATE Media professionals' handling of anti-democratic populism 1. BACKGROUND 2 2. COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCES 3 A. STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE MEDIA AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 3 B. JOURNALISTIC WORK WHEN DEALING WITH ANTI-DEMOCRATIC POPULISTS 5 C. GUIDELINE FOR ACTION IN YOUR OWN EDITORIAL TEAM 7 D. PARTICULAR CHALLENGES IN THE AREA OF SOCIAL MEDIA 8 E. DEALING WITH LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC IMAGES 10 F. THE NEED FOR FACT CHECKING 10 3. RECOMMENDED READING 12 4. ON THE AUTHORS | LEGAL NOTICE 13 COUNTERING POPULISM IN PUBLIC SPACE COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCES FOR PROMOTING A DEMOCRATIC CULTURE OF DEBATE IN COOPERATION WITH COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCES FOR PROMOTING A DEMOCRATIC CULTURE OF DEBATE 1. BACKGROUND as Progressive Zentrum promotes the improvement of should also convey subjective perspectives and the rivalry Dknowledge-sharing, particularly among young adults, between various political positions as foundations upon regarding the way journalism deals with anti-democratic which citizens can form a political opinion. In this regard, populism and its representatives in the public space. This pa- political information not only includes news coverage, but per builds on the expertise and experience of media profes- also the discussion and questioning of central political ac- sionals. During the "workshop for promoting a democratic tors, such as the federal government or the different parties. culture of debate" on 14 December 2018 in Berlin, they iden- tified challenges, pointed out problems and discussed solu- Over the past few years, media professionals have been faced tions. These recommendations for solutions are not univer- with greater challenges than they were previously used to sally applicable or exhaustive, but instead illustrate different in the German context.
  • Con-Scripting the Masses: False Documents and Historical Revisionism in the Americas

    Con-Scripting the Masses: False Documents and Historical Revisionism in the Americas

    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Open Access Dissertations 2-2011 Con-Scripting the Masses: False Documents and Historical Revisionism in the Americas Frans Weiser University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/open_access_dissertations Part of the Comparative Literature Commons Recommended Citation Weiser, Frans, "Con-Scripting the Masses: False Documents and Historical Revisionism in the Americas" (2011). Open Access Dissertations. 347. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/open_access_dissertations/347 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CON-SCRIPTING THE MASSES: FALSE DOCUMENTS AND HISTORICAL REVISIONISM IN THE AMERICAS A Dissertation Presented by FRANS-STEPHEN WEISER Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY February 2011 Program of Comparative Literature © Copyright 2011 by Frans-Stephen Weiser All Rights Reserved CON-SCRIPTING THE MASSES: FALSE DOCUMENTS AND HISTORICAL REVISIONISM IN THE AMERICAS A Dissertation Presented by FRANS-STEPHEN WEISER Approved as to style and content by: _______________________________________________ David Lenson, Chair _______________________________________________
  • Historical Sociology Vs. History

    Historical Sociology Vs. History

    Julia Adams. The Familial State: Ruling Families and Merchant Capitalism in Early Modern Europe. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2005. xi + 235 pp. $35.00, cloth, ISBN 978-0-8014-3308-5. Reviewed by Susan R. Boettcher Published on H-Low-Countries (November, 2007) Historical Sociology vs. History discipline, gender relations) developed by practi‐ Two fundamental concerns of historical soci‐ tioners of the "new cultural history."[2] In her ology have always been the origin and nature of new book on the relationship of gender to devel‐ modernity. In response to modernization and de‐ oping states, Adams claims to be "charting ... new pendency theory, which seemed to present territory in the study of the formation of Euro‐ modernity as an objectively describable condi‐ pean states" (p. 12). However, while Adams adds tion, previous generations of historical sociolo‐ some elements to her account, especially gender gists studied comparative issues in early modern and the colonial economy, if this work is indica‐ European history, especially themes emphasized tive of the "new" historical sociology, it provides in that body of theory, such as democratic revolu‐ us primarily with another version of the story tion and the emergence of the nation-state. Those rather than new questions, different approaches, sociologists (one thinks of Charles Tilly, Theda or perhaps most importantly, new characteriza‐ Skocpol, Barrington Moore, and Immanuel tions of the genesis and trajectory of the early Wallerstein) enriched not only the questions his‐ modern state. torians asked but substantially influenced the so‐ Adams's book is organized in an introduction cial history written in response.
  • History from a Philosophic Perspective

    History from a Philosophic Perspective

    CANADIAN SOCIAL STUDIES VOLUME 41 NUMBER 1, Fall 2008 www.quasar.ualberta.ca/css History from a Philosophic Perspective Catherine Broom Simon Fraser University Return to Articles Abstract One of the key components of Social Studies has always been history, yet many of us seldom explore what we mean by history. This paper delves into the meaning of history through an examination of Collingwood’s work and a discussion of how we can incorporate twentieth century thought into his work. This paper aims, in Collingwood’s words, to “deepen understanding” of our craft. Philosophy of History: Collingwood The philosophies of history of Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Polybius, St Augustine, Bodin, Vico, Herder, and Hegel (selections in Tillinghast, 1963) and Collingwood (1956) make clear that understanding “history” is not easy. The questions that have to be answered, such as for and of whom is it written and why, are philosophical ones. Most of these philosophers saw history from a religious viewpoint: they viewed its events as illustrating the unfolding of “Providence,” or God’s purpose. However, Collingwood’s work (1956) illustrates the true meaning of history. Collingwood argues that certain early accounts, such as in pre­Greek societies, or certain modern accounts, like those based on dividing societies into a number of epochs, such as Marx’s, are not really history, as they shape facts to suit their larger theoretical frameworks. Rather, history is the re­enactment of past thought in the mind of a historian in order to answer a question about people in the past the historian has first articulated.
  • US Historians of Latin America and the Colonial Question

    US Historians of Latin America and the Colonial Question

    UC Santa Barbara Journal of Transnational American Studies Title Imperial Revisionism: US Historians of Latin America and the Spanish Colonial Empire (ca. 1915–1945) Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/30m769ph Journal Journal of Transnational American Studies, 5(1) Author Salvatore, Ricardo D. Publication Date 2013 DOI 10.5070/T851011618 Supplemental Material https://escholarship.org/uc/item/30m769ph#supplemental Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Imperial Revisionism: US Historians of Latin America and the Spanish Colonial Empire (ca. 1915–1945) RICARDO D. SALVATORE Since its inception, the discipline of Hispanic American history has been overshadowed by a dominant curiosity about the Spanish colonial empire and its legacy in Latin America. Carrying a tradition established in the mid-nineteenth century, the pioneers of the field (Bernard Moses and Edward G. Bourne) wrote mainly about the experience of Spanish colonialism in the Americas. The generation that followed continued with this line of inquiry, generating an increasing number of publications about the colonial period.1 The duration, organization, and principal institutions of the Spanish empire have drawn the attention of many historians who did their archival work during the early twentieth century and joined history departments of major US universities after the outbreak of World War I. The histories they wrote contributed to consolidating the field of Hispanic American history in the United States, producing important findings in a variety of themes related to the Spanish empire. It is my contention that this historiography was greatly influenced by the need to understand the role of the United States’ policies in the hemisphere.
  • A New Era in the Study of Global History Is Born but It Needs to Be Nurtured

    A New Era in the Study of Global History Is Born but It Needs to Be Nurtured

    [JCH 5.1-2 (2018–19)] JCH (print) ISSN 2051-9672 https://doi.org/10.1558/jch.39422 JCH (online) ISSN 2051-9680 A New Era in the Study of Global History is Born but It Needs to be Nurtured Harvey Whitehouse1 University of Oxford, UK Email: [email protected] (corresponding author) Peter Turchin2 University of Connecticut Email: [email protected] (corresponding author) Pieter François3, Patrick E. Savage4, Thomas E. Currie5, Kevin C. Feeney6, Enrico Cioni7, Rosalind Purcell8, Robert M. Ross9, Jennifer Larson10, John Baines11, Barend ter Haar12, R. Alan Covey13 Abstract: Thisa rticle is a response to Slingerland e t al. who criticize the quality of the data from Seshat: Global History Databank utilized in our Nature paper entitled “Complex Societies Precede Moralizing Gods throughout World History”. Their cri- tique centres around the roles played by research assistants and experts in procuring and curating data, periodization structure, and so-called “data pasting” and “data fill- ing”. We show that these criticisms are based on misunderstandings or misrepresenta- tions of the methods used by Seshat researchers. Overall, Slingerland et al.’s critique (which is crosslinked online here) does not call into question any of our main findings, but it does highlight various shortcomings of Slingerland et al.’s database project. Our collective efforts to code and quantify features of global history hold out the promise of a new era in the study of global history but only if critique can be conducted con- structively in good faith and both the benefitsa nd the pitfalls of open science fully recognized.