Making Use of Resources - A College Library Tour

At a certain point, you may want to go do research yourself. You may find that, as thorough as I try to be with my research, I may not cover what you need. Covering even what's only available on the internet is a huge task.

Outside the internet, libraries are obviously your next best alternative. I personally advise going to a government or college library, as they have incredible resources beyond what your average local library can provide.

Let's look at some of the resources my own college library had available:

• Books
• Periodicals
• Microfiche
• Government Documents

Books

Obviously a library would have books. But at my local college library, what I found was a good three floors of books on all variety of topics. For example, in the middle of one room I found books on Abraham Lincoln. At the end of the very same room, a collection of essays on video games.

Man of these are books which you wouldn't find in a local library. A quick perusal of some books on a nearby shelf revealed books from the 1960s, the 1950s, and one set of books all the way back from the 1890s. You might be able to find books published during the very time period you're searching for. Firsthand accounts are always some of the most valuable sources of information you can get.

Periodicals

Magazines, journals and other frequent publications often contain valuable information. This valuable information, however, may often be missed or ignored. It may be impossible to find older editions of a periodical in question, or you may not even realize that there were publications covering the topic you are searching for. 

But at library, they keep records of these publications in the periodicals section. Books containing the contents of several editions of a particular publication are organized by topic and year. It helps to have what you're looking for in mind when you search through these.

Microfiche

Microfiche is a method by which books and documents are condensed and stored in a very small area. Tiny thumbnails of pages are printed on clear celluloid, allowing whole books to be shrunk down to a series of sheets no bigger than a large index card.

The only downside to microfiche is that they require the use of a special reader that is able to project the actual page to a readable size.

Note: Depending on the collection you're searching through, the microfiche you're searching for may in fact be available online. Check the catalog of the library you're searching to see if they have it available.

Government Documents

Government documents are all manner of things, including but not limited to:

• Public laws
• Government censuses
• Lists of patents 
• Geological surveys
• Letters by delegates to Congress
• Statistics reports on all manner of topics
• Scientific reports by government agencies

And really, that's just scratching the surface. Not everything may be useful if you're just looking for basic information and not statistics (unless your character would be knowledgeable about such things), but there's plenty there that is helpful, and it's worth checking out.

Overall, a full college library is an incredibly valuable resource. I highly recommend you make use of that resource while researching information for your character, if it is ever available to you.

Case Study - Winter Shadows by Margaret Buffie

Winter Shadows is a historical novel by Margaret Buffie. It tells the story of two girls - one from the mid-1800s - Beatrice - and another from present day - Cass. Both girls live in Manitoba, Canada, and are going through similar struggles with step-parents. Through a series of events they are able to communicate across time and help each other with their problems.

There are certainly some fantasy-like elements to this story, but on the whole the two times stay separate. The story of Beatrice gives us a glimpse into several aspects of the time period and environment she lives in.

In looking Winter Shadows, we'll

• Look at research the author did
• Analyze how certain social tensions were presented
• Comment on the accuracy of these presentations

Research - What did the author do?

In Winter Shadows, the Beatrice is part Cree, a Native American group that lived primarily around the Great Lakes (Native Net, 2005). In her journal, Beatrice sometimes uses words from the Cree language. In the back of the book, Margaret Buffie wrote about the research she did on that topic.

Buffie primarily cites two people who helped her create the glossary of words she used - one a professor and specialist in the topic, the other a Swampy Cree elder (Buffie, 2010). Between these two experts, she was able to get information on the words themselves and how to use and spell them correctly. She was also able to get specific information on the dialect that would have been spoken in the area she chose for the book.

Buffie also speaks of how she did research of the area her story takes place in, though she does not get any more specific than that.

Analysis - How were certain social issues presented?

The two main social issues presented in Winter Shadows were the conflicts between the native Cree and half-Cree residents versus the non-native settlers, and the Victorian freethinker movement versus traditional values and expectations.

The conflict between the native Cree and half-Cree residents versus non-native settlers is best shown by the conflict between Beatrice herself and her stepmother, Ivy. Beatrice is half-Cree, on her father's side. Ivy, meanwhile, is a recent immigrant to the area from Europe. The two clash often over things such as the treatment of Beatrice's grandmother, a Cree woman.

The conflict between freethinking and tradition are illustrated by the two men Beatrice chooses between to marry. On one hand, there is Robert Dalhousie, a traditional, religious man seeking a reserved, pious wife to help him and his ailing sister while he does missionary work. On the other, there is  Duncan Kilgour, a freethinker from Europe who teases Beatrice as much as he encourages her own beliefs.

Comment - How accurate was Buffie's interpretation?

From the research I've done, her interpretation seems accurate.

The area chosen for the story is one that the Cree were known to inhabit. Some of the first interactions between French visitors and Cree were via fur trading (Canadian Genealogy, 2002). The marriages that resulted are mentioned specifically in the book by the French term - "à la façon du pays" (Buffie, 2010).

The freethinking movement was most popular in the 1800s, and originated in Europe. Duncan's freethinking roots come from his childhood spent with his family in Europe. It emphasized not being bound by religion and instead promoted humanist ideals and moving against traditional values (Britain Humanist Association, 2012).  In the end, Duncan encourages Beatrice to be true to her desires and be with someone who would treat her as an equal.

Sources

Britain Humanist Association. (2012). 19th century freethinkers. Retrieved from   http://www.humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanist-tradition/freethinkers 

Buffie, M. (2010). Winter shadows. Canada: Tundra Books.
Canadian Genealogy. (2002). Cree indians of canada. Retrieved from http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/indians/cree_indians.htm

Native Net. (2005). Cree indians. Retrieved from http://www.native-net.org/tribes/cree-indians.html 

Topics in History - Fabric and Dyes

When deciding on clothing for your character, is important to know the kinds of fabrics and colors that would have been available, especially in visual mediums like movies or comics.

In this article we'll explore

• Early Clothes
  
• Textiles
  
• Fabric developments
  
• Color

Early Clothes – What did people first wear?

People wore clothes made from natural sources - “animal skin and furs, grasses and leaves, and bones and shells” (Bellis, 2012). Sewing was rudimentary at best. Needles could be made from bone, which could be used to make sewn garments. However, it was far more likely for you to find clothing that was draped or tied off.

Textiles – How did clothing develop?

The discovery of spinning and weaving allowed people to make cloth for the first time. Mankind first began to twist plant fibers together to make string some 20,000-30,000 years ago. Weaving can be dated back to Neolithic times – around 12,000 years ago (Administrator, 2012). 

Fabric – What kinds of fabric were available in different times?

Early clothing varied a lot by region. Different kinds of fiber were available in different locations. Trade make it possible for some different kinds to be passed around to different regions.

By region, common types of fabric were

• Egypt – clothing was light and typically made of linen or cotton. Jewelry was often worn – gold and silver and precious stones for the wealthy, coppor or bronze for the poor
  
• Greek or Romans – clothing was typically made of linen or wool, though the wealthy could afford silk or cotton
  
• Medieval – Wool was the most common material of clothing in this time period, though it varied in quality; modern fashion began during this time period
  
• Early Americas – Mayans, Azetcs, and upper-class Incas all wore cotton (Lambert, 2012)
  
  

Color – How did dyes affect clothing from different periods?

The first known record of dyes being used comes from Ancient China (Druding, 2007).

Early dyes were natural – typically coming from plants or insects. In one instance, sea-snails were used by the ancient Phoenicians to make a purple dye. Many more vivid colors were rare and expensive, and in several cases they were restricted to royalty and the upper-class.

For example, throughout different cultures, the colors reserved for royalty were

• China – Yellow (reserved for the emperor), Orange (reserved for the crown prince), bright blue, red and purple
  
• England – Purple
  
• Ancient Greece and Rome – Purple
  

Additionally, some colors were reserved for different professions. The color red was worn by English physicians and the British Army.

Synthetic dyes were first created and produced for general use in the late 1800s. After synthetic dyes became commonly produced, colors became cheaper and more consistent, causing natural dyes to fall out of use (Wyse, 2012).

Sources:

Administrator. (2010, April 08). History of weaving. Retrieved from http://www.weavedesign.eu/site/index.php/about-his-work/6-techniques/20-history-of-weaving 

Bellis, M. (2012). History of clothing: How did specific items of clothing develop?. Retrieved from http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/clothing.htm 

Druding, S. C. (2007, November 30). Dye history from 2600 bc to the 20th century. Retrieved from www.straw.com/sig/dyehist.html

Lambert, T. (2012). A brief history of clothing. Retrieved from http://www.localhistories.org/clothes.html 

Wyse, X. (2012). History of natural dyes - color in culture. Retrieved from http://baileybear.hubpages.com/hub/History-of-Natural-Dyes-Color-in-Culture

Historical Character Creation in Action - Dear America

The Dear America book series is a children's book series that focuses on young female characters from different eras in time in American history. They focus on these girls through a series of diary entries, and help explain how life was like in the time periods represented.

Each book is written by a different author, and focuses on a different time period, including periods like the Civil War, the pilgrimage, and the Vietnam War. The authors use historical events and information, even if the characters themselves are fictional.

Characters – How did they come up with them?

Different authors – when speaking about their experiences in writing their Dear America books – had different inspirations:

• Karen Hesse, author of A Light in the Storm, was inspired by the stories of the Lightkeeper, Ida Lewis. (Scholastic, 2012b)
• Lois Lowry, author of Like the Willow Tree, took inspiration from asking questions at a local Shaker community in Maine about life in the late 18th Century (Scholastic, 2012c)
• Patricia C. McKissack, author of A Picture of Freedom, was inspired by the story of her own great-great-grandmother, a slave who learned to read and write despite the law.

Information – Where did they get it?

The authors of these different books looked for historical information from a variety of settings and sources:

• Patricia C. McKissack visited six different plantations in Virginia while researching for another one of her books (Scholastic, 2012d)
• Barry Denenberg, author of When Will this Cruel War Be Over?, researched by looking at diary entries and letters from the civil war period itself (Scholastic, 2012a)
• Lois Lowry visited Quaker communities while doing research, and asked notable historians in these communities questions (Scholastic, 2012c)

Sources:

Scholastic. (2012a). Barry denenberg. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/meettheauthors.htm 

Scholastic. (2012b). Karen hesse. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/meettheauthors.htm 

Scholastic. (2012c). Lois lowry. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/meettheauthors.htm 

Scholastic. (2012d). Patricia c. mcKissack. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/dearamerica/meettheauthors.htm

Case Study - The 1920s

The 1920s in the US – also known as the Roaring Twenties – was full of change. Life was two-sided, with one side being full of partying and entertainment, while the other was full of tension and isolation.

In exploring the 1920s, we'll look at: 

• Conditions
• Technology
• Attitudes

Conditions - How did people live?

Life in the 1920s depended on which class you were in. 

The Upper and Middle-class in particular enjoyed the developments in the 1920s.  The rich spent much time partying and going to speakeasies. The middle class enjoyed much more leisure time thanks to many inventions from this time period. Slang was a common part of how people spoke in the cities (Whitley, 1999).

On the farms, life was very different. A lot of technology and developments simply weren't available; things like indoor plumbing and electricity and appliances were absent. Life revolved around the seasons, with entertainment being mainly limited to occasional social events and gatherings (Reinhardt).

Developments - What did people have access to?

The first "talking pictures" were shown in 1926, turning movies into a business (Whitley, 1999). The radio and radio programs provided news and entertainment to people across the nation.

Household appliances became widely available, with tools like the toaster oven, vaccum and washing machine. They cut down the time needed for household chores, freeing that time up for other activities (Lorance, 1998).

Cars became commonplace as well, with the beginning of mass production of the Model-T by Henry Ford (The People History, 2004). 

Attitudes - What typical opinions did people have?

The 1920s was full of cultural tensions and disregard for the law.

The Prohibition led to a huge outbreak of organized crime. People obtained alcohol through many illegal and questionable means, including smuggling, home brewing, and medicinal prescriptions (Scoot, 2005). Eventually, it lead to people treating the law with contempt in general.

Racism was common as well. Intolerance for immigrant groups was widespread. Vigilante groups and the Klu Klux Klan took the law into their own hands and lynched blacks and other groups (The People History, 2004).

Above all though, it was a time for rebelling against old ideals and beliefs. Women challenged expectations by wearing loose clothing and partying. Traditional Victorian values were challenged by new ideas. Things were changing in the US.

Sources: 

The People History. (2004). 1920s history. Retrieved from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1920s.html

Whitley, P. (1999). American cultural history 1920 - 1929. Retrieved from http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade20.html

Lorance, L. (1998). Promises, promises: The allure of household appliances in the 1920s. Retrieved from http://www.brickhaus.com/amoore/magazine/house.html 

Reinhardt, C. (n.d.). Farming in the 1920s. Retrieved from http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe20s/life_01.htm 

Scoot, R. (2005). Prohibition in the united states. Retrieved from http://www.1920-30.com/prohibition/ 

Creating Characters - The basics

Before creating a historical character, first you need to understand how to create a normal one. Creating a good character can take a lot of time at first. But with practice, you will get better at it, and it will get easier.

Parts of creating a good character

• Basic information
• Personality
• Backstory
  
  

Basic Information - Who is your character?

Give your character basic information like their name, age, gender, and appearance. This information helps set up who your character is. Some of these facts are used for reference, while others can even influence how your readers view them.

A character's appearance can be things like

• hair color and length
• eye color
• distinguishing features
• personal style

Appearance in particular can be used to allude to other aspects of a character, which is useful in avoiding info dumps.

 

Personality - How does your character act?

Focus on a few key factors that will determine your character's personality. Factors that influence personality can be moral values, key characteristics, and important beliefs. These factors should determine how your character reacts to as many different situations as possible.

A word of caution: It's impossible to plan every aspect of your character's personality, let alone have them show it in your story. Try to focus on just a few key aspects, rather than every possible reaction your character might have. It's easier and much faster for you, the author.

Backstory - Where does your character come from?

Backstory involves things like your character's history; what their life was like; and where and when they grew up . Think of these as sort of foundation for your character's personality: their backstory should help influence their traits.

Creating Historical Characters - An Introduction

Characters are a vital part of any story; so is credibility. To maintain your credibility, you – the author – must do adequate research on topics in your story. Research is especially important when your story is historical fiction, especially for your characters. But researching this information can be lengthy and time-consuming. This blog is here to help shorten that time, by giving you important historical information that you need to create your characters.

The Need for Credibility in Historical Fiction

Many readers of historical fiction are already familiar with history itself. These readers will be able to tell if information in your story is inaccurate. Inaccurate information can ruin a reader's experience, and even make it difficult for them to keep reading. And if you lose readers, then it's clear you have a major problem with your story. To avoid having this sort of problem, it's better to do adequate research before publishing.

Characters in Historical Fiction

A character's environment has a huge impact on how their mindset - how they think, feel, and act. To accurately portray a historical character, you need to understand what life was like back then. Many historical sites give information on social, religious and economic forces, but they don't have as many details on everyday topics. Everyday topics, unfortunately, are a vital part of understanding what life might be like for a historical character.

Creating Historical Characters

Historical Information is out there. The goal of this blog is to gather it and give it to you, for fast and easy reference. Each post will cover a different time period, and give you details that will help you the most in creating a believable historical character. Believable characters make for believable stories.