Talk:My Memoir

Edith Wilson memoir and historical value
Hi all, I’ve just run across First Lady Edith Wilson’s autobiography My Memoir at DYK and I’m a bit sorry to see how much the entry is focused on book’s lack of historical worth. It’s all sourced, just, it seems unlikely to be the view of women’s historians or cultural historians for that matter—most artifacts have some historical value, it’s just a matter of what they testify to. Of course as it stands this comment is OR on my part. Just thought I’d throw it out there in case someone immersed in the sources might have seen the book referenced. Long shot! Innisfree987 (talk) 20:44, 24 December 2020 (UTC)
 * We should be careful not to unduly glorify the past-- in this case, I found nothing to contradict the sources that I put into the article-- if I had, I would have put it in the article! However, if anyone finds other things to add, I would be most appreciative. Cheers, Eddie891 Talk Work 21:36, 24 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Yup like I note, it’s all sourced and I don’t suggest glorifying anything. I did approve the DYK as is. But for further developing the entry, reading raised the question for me especially since Google scholar finds 85 references to the book, suggesting maybe some sources have found it useful for some purpose, which tracks with more recent historical methodologies that use texts very differently than would have been the case when the book was released 80 years ago. But unfortunately at the moment I don’t have access to most of the sources to see more of what it’s being referenced for, in addition to the more recent sources already in the entry. I’ll dig some more in what I do have. Innisfree987 (talk) 22:06, 24 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Probably best continued at the article’s talk page so I will copy this over there but would continue to be grateful for all input... Innisfree987 (talk) 03:12, 26 December 2020 (UTC)
 * My concern is what to make of, e.g., this piece in OAH Magazine (2001) that uses My Memoir as a historical source on First Ladies' policy influence. It does not specifically state that the memoir has historical value so we must carefully avoid SYNTH. At the same time it seems challenge the entry’s current emphasis on the book’s lack of historical value. Perhaps simply stating something like “Later historians have used the memoir to evaluate First Ladies' influence on policy [cite], etc. etc.” with other examples. My academic journal access is limited but this (Presidential Studies Quarterly, 1985) seems to be in same camp, using the memoir to study Edith W as a powerful political figure in her own right. Innisfree987 (talk) 03:50, 26 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Hmmm... I've actually got quite a bit of academic journal access, so I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I can dig anything up Eddie891 Talk Work 01:15, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * , great, I’ll be interested to hear. Innisfree987 (talk) 21:00, 30 December 2020 (UTC)
 * To add a third example, this has a brief but interesting use of the book to comment on race in the Progressive Era. Innisfree987 (talk) 22:51, 2 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Ok, I went ahead and added what I had found. We can always change if you find more/different. I also tried my best to balance the lead accordingly but I don’t think I succeeded. I’ll take another stab at it tomorrow. Innisfree987 (talk) 05:32, 7 January 2021 (UTC)