L6 285 13 py 1 Suggestions for the Year's Study HISTORY D. VASSAR COLLEGE Suggestions for the Year's Study HISTORY D. VASSAR college, vOc^W^, ^>4 ^^A.dC^^x^ ^ • -o^: -3fc SECOND EDITION, REVISED Poughkeepsie, New York 1913 13 \Q> Copyright, 1908 Lucv M. Salmon. Gift Author (P«rtM) SEP 13/3 "Take these hints as suggestions, not as instructions, and improve on them as you grow in experience." "Historical genius consists in an unlimited capacity for taking pains." — Bishop Stubbs. "The ideal college education seems to me to be the one where a student learns things he is not going to use in after life by methods that he is going to use. The former element gives the breath, the latter element gives the training." — President Hadley, cited by President Lotvell in his Inaugural Address, October 6. igog. "The divine faculty is to see what everybody can look at." — /. R. Lozi'cll. "To find things out for oneself is the very essential of education." — Percv Gardner. PREFACE. Special acknowledgement is made of the invaluable assistance given by Miss E. M. Rushmore, Vassar College, Class of 1906. She has prepared a complete list of all the newspaper material in the Vassar College Library and has thus made it available for the stu- dents in History D. To Miss F. M. Brewer, Vassar College, Class of 1908. of the Poughkeepsie Nezvs-Press I am much indebted for helpful suggestions in regard to the practical side of newspaper work. L. M. S. Poughkeepsie, N. Y. September, 1913. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Preface. I. Introduction. Description of Course D. What the student brings to the general elective courses in History. What the student should gain from History D. H. The Library. HI. Material recommended to every student, available to every student, to be consulted elsewhere. IV. The work of the semester : analysis of the newspaper into its component parts, comparison of newspapers, classification of newspapers, study of the newspaper, as a personality, as a business enterprise, as an organization, in its relation to other activities, with reference to its special problems, clippings. V. Conclusion of work of semester : the newspaper as historical material, credibility, limitations, value. VI. Opinions on the importance of the press. VII. Relation of History D. to other courses in History. HISTOKY D I. INTRODUCTION. 1. Description of the Course. "Course D. Periodical Literature : Its use as historical material. First semester [2]. Professor Salmon. The object of this course is to show the place of periodical litera- ture in the study and writing of history. It aims to train the student to read the newspaper and other periodicals from the historian's point of view and to appreciate their value and their limitations as histori- cal records. It therefore considers the questions of the collection of news, the control of the press by political parties or other influences and agencies, the legal responsibility of the press, censorship and freedom of the press, and kindred subjects. Newspapers and maga- zines, daily, weekly and monthly, American and foreign, of different periods are studied, analyzed and compared through the preparation of weekly topics." — Vassar College Catalogue. 2. What the student brings to the general elective courses in History. What has been gained from one year's college work in History. From the subject studied: a bird's-eye view of Western Europe, an appreciation of historical developments, an understanding of the unity and continuity of history, historical perspective, a background for work in other subjects. From the study of the subject: ability to use books, to analyze material, to vivify historical facts, to respect facts, to value accurate, painstaking work. to understand the difference between reading iiistory and studying history, to appreciate the difference between history and his- torical record. to understand what the historian does in writing his- tory, to connect the present with the past and the past with the present, "The roots of the present lie deep in the past, and nothing in the past is dead to the man who would learn how the present comes to be what it is." — Stiibbs. 3. What the student should gain from History D. From the subject studied: an appreciation of the value of periodical literature as historical material, the limitations of periodical literature as historical material. From the study of the subject: to analyze a newspaper with reference to the authori- tativeness of its component parts, to discriminate in the use of newspapers, to learn what may be legitimately demanded of a newspaper, to make newspaper clippings with judgment, to be more observing, to draw conclusions, to be more independent in work, to be more accurate in work. "I have watched the work of graduates of colleges from Canada to the Gulf, from New York to the Golden Gate, and the failing nearly all had to com- bat was a lack of accuracy." II. THE COLLEGE LIBRARY. The Vassar College library contains files of important periodicals located as follows : — Basement : Neiv York Herald, 1843— New York Tribune, 1862-1886; 1895— New York Evening Post, 1900 — Center : Newspaper room. North Wing — Floor : Current periodicals, Indexes to periodicals, Le Moniteur. North Wing — Gallery : General periodicals. IIL MATERIAL. A. Recommended to every student. Personal subscription to a daily newspaper. World Almanac for the current year. The Constitution of the United States. B. Material available to the student. 1. Bibliographies. Rushmore, E. M. Tin tray with complete cards for all newspaper material in the Vassar College library. Slauson, A. B. Check List of American Neivspapers in the Library of Congress. Check List of Foreign Nezvspapers in the Library of Congress. Ingram, J. V. Check List of American Eighteenth Century Nezvspapers in the Library of Congress. Griswold, A. T. Annotated Catalogue of Nezvspaper Files in the Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. James, E. J. Nezvspapers and Periodicals of Illinois, 1814- 1879. Matthews, A. Bibliographical Notes on Boston Nezvspapers. 1704-1780. Lord and Thomas. A Complete List of Nezvspapers, Maga- zines and Periodicals in the United States and Canada, omitting such as do not insert Advcrtisenients. St. Louis Republic. Century Club of American Nezvs- papers, 1909. British Museum. Nezvspapers published in Great Britain and Ireland, 1801-1900. Dionne, N. E. Inventaire chroiwlogique des journaux et revues publics en langue anglaise dans la Province de Quebec de 1764 a 1907. International Bureau of American Republics. English Nezvspapers in Latin America. 2. Indexes. Poole, W. F. Indc.v to Periodical Literature. Guthrie, A. L. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. New York Tribune. Index, 1893-1906. Evening Post. Editorial Index to the Nczv York Evening Post. 1907 — Times. Index, 1913- Street, A. I. Pandex of the Nezvs. 1908. Jan.— Sept. 1909. Index to Dates of Current Events, 1911 — . Cumulation quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. Reprints and digests of early papers. The American Weekly Mercury. 4 v. 1719-1723. Buckingham, J. T. Specimens of Newspaper Literature, 2 V. 1850. Weeks, L. H., and Bacon, E. M. Historical Digest of the Provincial Press. Vol. 1, 1911. Nelson, Wm. Some Account of American Newspapers. In Nezv Jersey Archives, First Series, vols. 11, 12, 19. Old South Leaflets, No. 78. The Liberator, No. 1 ; No. 137, The Dial, No. 1 ; No. 157, The Lorvell Offering, October, 1845. Special files. Nezv York Herald, 1843— New York Tribune, 1862-1886; 1895— Nezv York Evening Post, 1900 — Niles' Weekly Register, 1811-1849. Harper's Weekly, 1857 — The Nation, 1865— The Illustrated London Nezvs, 1842-95 ; 1901— The Times (London), 1911 — Manchester Guardian, 1911 — Le Moniteur, 1789-1868. V Illustration, 1858-1862; 1896— Die Woche, 1901— Descriptions. Dana. C. A. Art of Nezi'spaper Making. 1895. Dibblee, G. B. The Nezvspaper. 1913. Given, J. L. Making a Nezvspaper. 1907. Martineau, H. Society in America, 1:109-115. Rogers, J. E. The American Nezvspaper. 1909. Steffens, J. L. "The Business of a Newspaper," Scribner's Magazine, October, 1897. Stone, M. E. "The Work of the Associated Press," The Century, April-August, 1905. Histories of the Press. Avenel, H. La Prcsse francaise au vingticnie siccle. 1901. Bourne, H. R. Fox. English Nezvspapers. 2 v. 1887. Curtis, G. W. "New York and its Press," in Orations and Addresses, v. 1. Eliot, J. "Narrative of the Newspapers printed in New England," Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1798, v. 5; 1799, v. 6. Funck-Brentano, F. Figaro et ses Devanciers. 1909. Hapgood, H., Maurice, A. B., and Sanborn, F. B. "The Great Newspapers of the United States," The Bookman, February, March, April, June, 1902. Hudson, F. History of Journalism in the United States from 1690 to 1872. 1873. Kitchen, G. Sir Roger L' Estrange. 1913. Putnam, G. H. Books and their Makers during the Middle Ages. 2 v. 1896-97. Thomas, I. History of Printing in America. 2 v. 1810. 10 Work of Eminent Editors and Journalists. Blowitz : Memoirs ; by H. G. S. A. de Blowitz. 1903. Bowles : Life and Times of Samuel Bowles ; by G. S. Merriam. 2 v. 1885. Bryant: William Cullcn Bryant; by J. Bigelow. 1890. Dana: Life of Charles A. Dana; by J. H. Wilson. 1907. Delane : Joht Thadeus Delane Editor of '"The Times;" by A. I. Dasent. 2 v. 1908. W. L. Garrison : William Lloyd Garrison ; by W. P. and F. J. Garrison. 4 v. 1894. W. P. Garrison : Letters and Memorials. 1908. Godkin : Life and Letters of Edzvin Laurence Godkin ; by R. Ogden. 2 v. 1907. Greeley : Horace Greeley ; by W. A. Linn. 1903. Stillman : Autobiography of a Journalist ; by W. J. Still- man. 1901. Special phases of the newspaper. Advertising: Advertiser's Cyclopaedia of Selling Phrases. 1909. Sampson, H. The History of Advertising. Scott, W. D. The Psychology of Advertising. The Theory and Practice of Advertising. Stead, Wm., Jr. The Art of Advertising. Lewis, L. The Advertisements of The Spectator. Ethics of the newspaper : Bergengren, R. "The Humor of the Colored Supple- ment," Atlantic Monthly, 1906, 98:267-273. Curtis, G. W. "Newspaper Ethics," in Ars Recte Vivendi, 93-136. Gorren, A. "The Ethics of Modern Journalism," Scrib- ner's Magazine, 1896, 19:507-513. Paracelus. "Confessions of a Provincial Editor," Atlantic Monthly, 1902, 89:351-359. Smith, Monroe. "The Dogma of Journalistic Inerrancy," North American Reviezc, 1908. 187:240-254. The War Correspondent : Anderson, H. M. "The War Correspondent," Bookman, 1904, 19:24-41. Baker, R. S. "How the News of the War is Reported," McClure's, 1898, 11:491-495. Landon, P. "War Correspondents and the Censorship," Fortnightly, 1902, 52 : 326-337. Millard, T. F. "The War Correspondent and his Future." Scribner's Magazine, 1905, 37 : 242-248. MacDonagh, M. "Can we rely on war news?," Fort- nightly, 1898, 69:612-625. For additional articles on these and on other phases of the subject, consult the cards in special tray arranged by E. M. Rushmore. 11 9. The Newspaper as historical material. Rhodes, J. F. "Newspapers as Historical Sources," His- torical Essays, Chap. 4. Vincent, J. M. "The Newspaper as a Source of History," Historical Research, 215-230. Nelson, W. "The American Newspapers of the Eigh- teenth Century as Sources of History, Awmal Report of the American Historical Association, 1908, vol. 1. 10. Evolution of history from the periodical records. A British Officer. "The literature of the South African War, 1899-1902." American Historical Rcvietv, Jan., 1907. "The literature of the Russo-Japanese War," American Historical Revieiv. April, July, 1911. 11. Freedom of the press. Putnam, G. H. Books and their Makers during the Middle Ages. 2 v. 1896-97. The Censorship of the Church of Rome. 2 v. 1906. Duniway, C. A. The Development of Freedom of the Press in Massachusetts. 1906. Rutherfurd, L. John Peter Zenger. 1904. Hunt, F. K. The Fourth Estate. 1850. Cremieux, A. Jm Censure en 1820 et 1821. Geiger, L. Das junge Deutschland und die Preussische Ccnsur. 1900. Interesting Collections to be consulted elsewhere. American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. Public Library, Boston, Mass. Massachusetts State Library, Boston, Mass. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Townsend Collection of Clippings, Columbia University, New York Citv. 12 IV. THE WORK OF THE SEMESTER. 1. Analysis of the newspaper into its component parts. news foreign domestic local headlines editorials advertisements correspondence reports illustrations occasional features book reviews * dramatic news art criticisms 2. Comparison of newspapers from the point of view of frequency of appearance, daily, weekly, monthly, geographical locality, American, foreign, metropolitan, provincial, national, sectional, contents, external appearance and general arrangement. 3. Classification of newspapers according to control by individual stock company political party ecclesiastical organization other agencies or influences object business enterprise promotion of special interest organ of special party creed industry 4. Study of the newspaper a. As a personality; external characteristics form; size; type; illustrations; quality of paper; color of ink; place of advertisements, of tele- graphic news, editorials, internal characteristics political bias; economic bias; independence; sensa- tionalism, names suggesting object; ownership; nationality; patriotism; ideal- ism; sensationalism; occupations; mythology; religion; literature, mottoes "Neutral in nothing." "Tros Tyrhtsquc mihi miUo discriminc agetiir." "All thenews that's fit to print." "All the news that's worth reading." "All the news the day it happened." "It's all here and it's all true." "The Past— the Present— For the Future." 13 conscious object "The design of this paper is to diffuse among the people correct information on all interesting subjects, to inculcate just principles in religion, morals and politics; and to cultivate a taste for sound litera- ture — [Prospectus of the Evening Post, No. 1, November 16, 1801." b. As a business enterprise; capital, mechanical, intellectual, manufacture of paper, cotton rags, wood pulp. estimated cost in timber of a year's circulation of a popular newspaper, effect of inventions on the character and the circula- tion of the newspaper, — steam navigation, the railroad; the telegraph, cable, telephone, trolley; typewriter, linotype, multiple press ; stenography ; wireless telegraphy, effect of reduction of price on quality of paper, circulation, industries fostered by growth of newspapers, manufacture of paper, distribution by means of newspaper trains, newsboys, subscription agencies, clipping bureaus. c. As an organization; office organization, editors, reporters, correspondents, business manager, collection of news, foreign, domestic, local. d. In its relation to other activities; the government, federal, state, local, the church, public health, the library, literature, education, industry, social questions. e. Its special problems; schools of journalism, the endowed newspaper, newspaper ethics, the Sunday paper, the comic supplement, syndicate articles, special editions. 14 5. Clippings a. Subject. Choose, as far as possible, one related to history, of permanent importance, that will continue through the semester. Eliminate irrelevant questions, ephemeral subjects, sensation, crime. b. Method. Consider that of clipping bureaus, newspaper offices, collectors, Columbia University, History Teacher's Magazine, 1 : 127. c. Arrangement. Consider best ways of dating, mounting, classification, preservation. d. Frequency. Advantages and disadvantages of clipping daily, weekly, monthly, at end of semester. e. Place. Drawing tables in library basement may be used. 15 V. CONCLUSION OF WORK OF THE SEMESTER. The Newspaper as historical material 1. Credibility of the newspaper current opinions "You can't believe anything you read in the papers." "I know it's so, I read it in the paper." 2. Limitations of the newspaper errors of statement "isolation" of sources of errors of judgment 3. Value of the newspaper as affected by conditions noted in previous sections, responsibility, legal, personal, anonj'mity of editorials, reviews, freedom of the press, censorship of the press, — America, England, France, Germany, Russia. The Church of Rome, libel laws, indirect limitation of freedom of the press, ownership of the press, economic conditions, ecclesiastical conditions, the advertiser, source of news, proposed restriction of circulation of news, crimes, domestic unhappiness, photographs of individuals. 4. Application How far is it possible from the press to reconstruct the life and interests of a community, political conditions, industrial conditions, college life, the educational system. to interpret public opinion. How far does the press fail to record the probable interests of a community. 16 VI. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESS. 1. Its place in education. "An earnest man ought to understand above all other social things his own times." — Francis Lieber. "Read also the Reviews ; they will keep you abreast of the current of modern literature." — James Russell Lozvell. "A journal or newspaper presents a transcript of current life, a history, a transcript of past life." — B. A. Hinsdale. "Bryce's American Commonwealth is essentially a work of history. That he deals with a set of contemporary events in- stead of successive ones is an accident of his subject. He has taken a cross section of history, instead of a longitudinal sec- tion." — Arthur T. Hadley. 2. Its power. "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets." — Proverb. "Give me but the liberty of the press, and I will give to the minister a venal House of Peers — I will give him a corrupt and servile House of Commons — I will give him the full swing of the patronage of office — I will give him the whole host of ministerial influence — I will give him all the power that place can confer upon him to purchase up submission and overawe resistance; and yet armed with the liberty of the press, I will go forth undismayed : I will attack the mighty fabric he has reared, with that mightier engine : I will shake down from its height corruption, and bury it be- neath the ruins of the abuses it was meant to shelter." — Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Hansard Debates, February 6, 1810, p. 341. VII. Relation of History D to other Courses iu History. CO X « 2 • h 9 9 X _> O U O c E k* ,o -J _J a: w o c <4 _l '5 — c «i a: >. fc. 2 c U ^ ^ q _