Historical Research & Writing History

Right now my life is filled with history projects having to do with early American history.

I started grad school in January with hopes of earning a degree in Applied History. I will define what Applied History is a little later, but for now I need to write about all this history that is spinning around in my head.

My grad class topic is Violence and Genocide. I know, what  a happy topic. Getting through the Holocaust part of the class was my most challenging  point, but I made it and now we are moving into violence in the United States.

On April 21st I have to do a presentation on the Tulsa Race Riot in 1921. Before taking this class I knew nothing about the event. I put a call into the Tulsa Historical Society to gather more information and hoping that some information can be sent to me in time for my presentation. I am also reading the book Riot and Remembrance: America's Worst Race Riot and Its Legacy, by James S. Hirch.

The riot began on May 31st when a black man accidentally tripped getting off an elevator. His hand touched the female elavator operator and she screamed rape. The Tulsa Tribune took the event and posted the following headline in their newspaper, "To lynch a Negro tonight". This event set off one of the worse race riots in United States history.

Here are two links to youtube that give accounts of the riot. The videos were co-produced by Tim Estiloz.

Part One - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NboclI2h-5s&feature=related

Part Two - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHVQEk8fi2M&feature=related

The other part of American history that I'm focusing on is Dillinger and the making of the FBI.

As I said in an earlier post and in my Public Enemies article, if it weren't for the gangsters of the early 1930s J. Edgar Hoover more than likely would have been out of a job.

In high school I studied Al Capone and the gangsters of the 1920s and have always thought of the gangster era in a romantic way, however, it was a very violent time.

The Dillinger story is very popular now due to the making of the movie Public Enemies. In researching Dillinger I came across this interesting article where the granddaughter of William Patrick O'Malley, Carol Kasper, speaks out against the glamorization of John Dillinger in Michael Mann's current movie.

William O'Malley was a detective shot by the Dillinger gang during a bank robbery in East Chicago. To read more about Ms Kasper and her grandfather click here

Be sure you read the discussion area, you will learn an interesting piece to the story.

I would love to hear what you think of either historical piece, so please feel free to comment.

(if for some reason the links are broken and you cannot access them, please let me know. thanks)

Thanks for stopping by.