Historical Method Library Science

8/8/2019 Historical Method Library Science

1/24

Historical Method

Mrs. Loida Tataro Degorio


2/24

The Method

Recognition of a historical problem or need for

historical knowledge

Gathering of pertinent information

Forming of hypotheses

Collection and organization of primary and

secondary evidence

Selection, organization and analysis of evidence,drawing of conclusions

Narrating conclusions


3/24

Important Elements

j examines/relates causes and results ofevents

j recognizes social, economic, political,intellectual and cultural environment inwhich event occurred

j acts as an exposition of past incidents and

developments and their impact on latertimes

j strives toward a truthful narrative


4/24

Library Science Applications

jBenefits:

reconstructions of the past allows librarians to

synthesize and make generalizations, and serve

as an aid to understanding the present

jProblems:

lack of replication

shift in historical focus due to technology


5/24

The Article

The Decline and Fall of the British Country

House Library - Peter H.R

eidjLibraries and Culture ~ Spring 2001


6/24

Reasons for the Study

jThis is a neglected area of study that needs

to be examined.

j Important area of the United Kingdomsnational history.

jThe houses discussed in this article have /

had some of the most important examples

of private library collections in the world.


7/24

Goals, Aims & Objectives

To make this historymore available toothers.

Bring information tolight.

Sometimes difficult asmany of the houses areno longer standing.

Analyze the trend ofselling books to fund alifestyle historicalexamples.

Castle Howard


8/24

Questions

j What happened to these collections?

j What factors led to the dispersal of these treasures?

j What is currently happening with manor house

collections?

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire


9/24

Application Of Method

jThe author appears to have applied the

historical method in a systematic and

knowledgeable way.

jDid the researchers seem to faithfully

follow the how to aspects of the method?


10/24

Method Applied

Yes, they did:

j Recognition of the problem: Sale of the countryhouse libraries.

j Gathering of relevant information: Use of diaries, contemporary news reports, records of

sales, journal articles, etc.

Chatsworth, Derbyshire


11/24

Method Applied (cont.)

j Forming of a hypothesis: Book collecting lessened in

importance through generations and collections became

easy cash.

j Collection and organization of evidence: Chronologicalaccount from first major sale through the present

supplemented with quotes from buyers and sellers. Verification of authenticity: Inclusion of notes section and information on

how to locate manuscripts allows for replication of the study.

j Selection, organization and analysis of collected evidence: Listing of more famous sales, including purchase prices and in some

instances, volume titles included in the sales. Chronological. Interspersed

with reasoning for each sale as gathered from primary sources.


12/24

Method Applied (Final)

j Recording of conclusions in meaningful narrative:

Easy to read article with many interesting quotes andanecdotes.

jWere there problems with the method that mightcause the data to be biased?

Not that I could tell.

j How were the primary documents selected?

The author chose to report on some of the most famoushouse sales and included information found in personal

papers, letters, diaries, archival records, and articlescontemporary to the period.


13/24

Sherbet Dish


14/24

Outcome of Research Efforts

jSummary of Findings (handout)

jReid found that there were many factors

that contributed to the dispersal of thecollections

Knowsley Hall, Lancashire


15/24

These factors include:

j IndustrialRevolution

j Personal financial

problems

j Settled Land Acts of

1882 & 1884

jWorldWar I

j Change in attitudetoward land

possession

j Increase in penal

taxation

j Increase in

estate/death duties

j WorldWar II

j Increasing cost of

maintaining estates


16/24

Significance of Historical Research:

Historical research canfacilitate our understanding

of when, how, and why past events occurred and the

significance of these events to libraries as collectors,

organizers, and disseminators of the products of

humanitys intellects and emotions.

~Busha & Harter, p.92


17/24

Significance of Reids Results:

j Chronicles the dispersion of private library

collections (specifically those ofBritish Country

Houses)

j Recognizes the social, economic, political, and

cultural environment surrounding and

precipitating the dissipation of such collections

j

Documents why a gentlemens library was anecessary status symbol, and why they were

also so easy to sell off


18/24

contd

j Notes a consequence ofWorld War I on these privatecollections (Many heirless families sold their country

houses.)

j Concludes that despite 150 years of indifference, the

worth of once carefully created family collections hasbeen redeemed

Melbury House, Dorset (During Restoration)


19/24

Do We Agree?

j The previous list was inferred to be Reids views

on the significance of his research.

jWhile I agree with the previous slide, I see

nothing earthshaking about the statement, TheBritish aristocracy have never viewed their

libraries as being sacrosanct; books were

expendable and could easily be sacrificed if the

need arose. This essay reminds me of modern-

day garage sales everyone makes decisions

based on their priorities.


20/24

Ideas to Consider:

j The possibility of flaws in Reids research are

never alluded to, let alone openly addressed.

j He does provide an extensive list of manuscripts,

books, and journal and newspaper articles, so ifsomeone wanted to replicate or continue his

research, they could start with the same sources.

j 37 British Country Houses are examined in this

essay; is this is a representational sample or the

entire population of qualifying homes?


21/24

Practical Uses

jThis article can be helpful to: librarians,

archive studies, genealogical research,

cultural studies, history of private libraries,

rare books research, and British history.

Haigh Hall, Lancashire


22/24

Reasons for Uses

j Librarians:

Resource for private library

history

Shows royaltys past

relation to books

Reference for others

j Archives:

See past record keeping of

sales Original sources

Some of these houses now

have archives open to

researchers as well

j Rare Books: History of book sales

Establish possibleprovenance of a particular

titlej Genealogy:

Family connections

Historical home places andtheir history

j Cultural Studies: Past actions ofBritish

royalty

Library culture

British culture


23/24

Summary

jArticle covers an area of little previous

research.

j

Uses many primary resources to researchthe history of the topic.

jDisplays information useful to a variety of

fields of study.


24/24

Blicking Hall, Norfolk

Questions?