Finding The Past

No Slide Title

Research inthe Internet Age

James D. Best

Author ofTempest at Dawn, The Shopkeeper, Leadville, The Shut Mouth Society, Murder at Thumb Butte & The Digital Organization

Finding The Past

2010

A wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

Does it help or harm?

Research in the Internet Age

2010Madison notes: over 230,000 words

Started writing fiction in 1998 Previously wrote non-fiction The Digital Organization Magazine columns Journal articles First novel written Tempest at Dawn Last novel published Tempest at Dawn

A Little Background

2010Wiley, 1997Decision in Philadelphia by Christopher CollierThe Great Rehearsal by Carl Clinton Van Doren

Working on a non-fiction book on the Founding PrinciplesHistorical Novels

2010

Tempest at Dawn Twelve year project Novelization of Constitutional Convention Inside ChamberTrue to Madisons notes Outside Chambermany events historical or based on circumstantial evidence Accurate character presentation Alternating Points of View

Dramatizing The Founding


Turn of the century Read well over 100 books Constitutional Convention Biographies Lifestyle & Philadelphia Marked up books, then transcribed Built elaborate timelineResearching Tempest at Dawn

The Old Fashioned Way


Downloaded source documents Madisons notes Drafts of constitution Federalist Papers, Anti Federalist Papers Locke and others No fact checking on the Internet Used Computer-based Encyclopedia Thesaurus DictionaryResearching Tempest at Dawn

Stuff From The Internet


Historical Novels Non-Fiction Blog Contributor What Would the Founders Think?

Working in the Twenty-First Century

Finding the Past


Source for Facts Hit & Miss Do I Trust the Source? Multiple Sites Not Meaningful Fact Checking Good Good Source for Names & Dates Great for Finding Reliable Primary Source Great for Coverage of Recent PastCornucopia or Avalanche?

Finding the Past

The Internet is the world's largest library. It's just that all the books are on the floor.John Allen Paulos


Gouverneur Morris had one leg. He lost it in a carriage accident, but told everyone he lost it jumping from a ladys balcony. Wikipedia had it backwards.Finding the Past

Wikipedia


Always Connected Use the Internet as First Source Historical Novels Plot Elements Historical Color & Details Fact Checking Non-Fiction Used to Find Primary Source Blogging Fact Checking? Article IdeasFinding the Past

My Work Habits Today


Examples of Internet Research

Needed a Major Plot ElementProblem: a technology with huge potential in mining.

Year: 1880 Considered: lumber, security, transport, tools, supplies, lodging, entertainment, etc. 4-5 Hours on Internet to find solutionWe've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true. Robert Wilensky



Thomas Edison demonstrated the light bulb in October 1879



Historical Color and Detail Prescott in 1880 A.T. Cross stylographic pen & propel-repel mechanical pencil Lees Ferry Major John Wesley Powells journal Morris Goldwater & Goldwater Store Wickenburg Steamer TrunksSaratoga



Fact Checkingin Mere Minutes Presidential appointment of Frmont Courthouse in 1880 Publication date for Roughing It by Mark Twain Value of Double Eagle Passenger list for Mayflower Correct name for game of jacksjackstones Name of Prescott newspaper in 1880 William Page, NYC artist in 1860s Owner of Palace Saloon in PrescottCould not verify Dr. Holliday & Virgil Earp in Prescott Spring of 1880Could not find physical description of Virgil Earp


Finding the Past

The greatest research tool invented in last few years in not part of the Internet.Information on the Internet is subject to the same rules and regulations as conversation at a bar. George Lundberg


Finding the Past

Archive newspaper articlesSearchHighlightCommentsEmail drafts to coauthorsPublic domain books cheapeBook readersBest of all: I dont have to get out of my chair


The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom. Jon Stewart Finding the Past

2010Thank You

2010

Education

Finding The Past