top of page
Search

Thoughts on Legitimacy

Writer's picture: David GrasséDavid Grassé

Not long ago, I submitted a article to an academic journal which had previously published my work. My submission was rejected. However, I do not think it was because it did not have merit. It was the story of the murder of Policeman William Katzenstein by Teodoro Elias (his prison record is shown here). In a nutshell, this was a tale about a bigoted and bullying police officer, who targeted a young mentally ill man for abuse. In turn, the young man shot the officer to death. Elias was subsequently arrested, indicted, and tried in the courts. Using as an illustration the case of the Territory of Arizona vs. Teodoro Elias, this story examined the latent racism and prejudices of the territorial press, the territorial judicial system, and the Anglo population, which, lacking both understanding and resources, condemned this young man to death for both his Hispanic heritage and his mental illness. 

Considering the political climate when I submitted it, it seemed a very timely piece (still is). However, I don't believe my submission was a rejected due to the subject matter, but due to the time period it was set in - the tail end of the territorial period in Arizona, which is technically the "Old West." I have noticed, whereas histories set in the era between 1865 and 1912 were formerly a regular feature in the pages of this journal, they are not any longer. In fact, this particular journal seems to have forsaken anything set in this time period altogether.

I can't say I blame them. The study of the American West has become something of a joke in academic circles due to the lack of discipline on behalf of many of the authors. Though they claim to be historians, many who write about the American West are simply storytellers. They are not bothering with research or analysis. They do not chase down primary sources, but rely almost entirely on secondary sources from other less-than-reputable authors. This becomes evident when one examines their citations and bibliographies (in the few which actually include them). These modern Western writers are simply regurgitating stories which were spurious in the first place.

Worse, they do not really care. The editor of a certain Western publication regularly disparages serious researchers - what he calls "the footnote crowd." Though this periodical claims to be historically accurate, it really is not. It isn't history they are filling their pages with. It is storytelling - what were once referred to as tall tales. I have personally taken to task one of the publication's regular contributors in my books for his distortions and prevarication. From what I have been told by numerous archivists of my acquaintance, this author never visits the archives in the state to do research.

The question then is how to restore legitimacy to this particular field of historical study? For me, I will continue to do my research as I have been, employing the scientific method. I also am stepping out of the insular world of Western writing. The forward for my next book, tentatively titled That Ill-Starred Street: The History of Tucson's Red Light Districts, 1870 - 1917, will not be written by a person known for their contributions to the history of the American West, but an outsider. I hope to employ a person with an academic background in history, but not specific to the American West. I will also continue to call out authors who write specious books and articles when I run across them.

I have submitted yet another article to the journal mentioned earlier. It is the story of Annie Sullivan Wiley, a.k.a Eva Blanchard, the prosperous Tucson madame. It is my hope it will be accepted on its merit, and not ignored because of the time period it is set in.



5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Ghosts

Projects

Kommentare


520-780-6229

©2020 by David Grassé, Author & Historian. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page