Process
Pre-Research Thoughts:
Before I started this research journal, I assumed that it was going to be similar to other database research. Specifically, I thought it was going to be similar to the first research journal on reference sources. I knew that I needed to be aware of partisan affiliations of newspapers during the 19th century. During the 19th century, many newspapers also blatantly plagiarized from one another.
The Research Itself:
I decided that I would begin my newspaper research by first examining four members of the class of 1862 I found most interesting and I feel I might pursue for my historical thinking project, Benjamin Lamberton, Clay McCauley, Martin C. Herman, and William P. Willey. If the search for worthwhile newspaper articles about these men proves to be unfruitful, then I will start searching other members of the class of 1862.
Databases
- The first database I used was 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. I recommend this database highly. It is very easy to use. The database makes it very easy to download a pdf of any particular newspaper article.
- The next database I used was the Chronicling America database created by the Library of Congress. I did not find this database as easy to use at the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers database, but it was still relatively user-friendly. I found some good articles on here.
- The Accessible Archives database in my opinion was not that easy to use. However, I think some valuable articles can be found on this database.
- The Historical Newspapers database was another database that I found useful.
- I also took a look at PA Civil War Era Newspapers Collection and the Civil War Era database but I did not find articles that I used in my research.
Definitely try using a variety of search terms when looking for relevant newspaper articles. Also, using the date limitation option on databases is a good way to weed out irrelevant newspaper articles.
Findings
Clay McCauley
Clay McCauley is the member of the class of 1862 that I personally find to be the most interesting so I decided to research him first. I began my newspaper research on Clay McCauley on a database called 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. I began by simply typing in “McCauley, Clay” into the search bar. I also used the date limitations for my search. I limited it to the earliest articles being from 1843 (the year McCauley was born) until 1899 (the latest year offered on the database). This database will not help me find articles about McCauley later in life, since the database strictly covers the 19th century only and McCualey died in 1925.
Excerpt from Western Correspondence by Pilgrim for the Congregationalist and the Boston Recorder regarding Clay McCauley.
The first result that proved to be of interest was an article from a newspaper called The Congregationalist and the Boston Recorder and was published on August, 20, 1868. It describes when Clay McCauley was denied ordination as a Presbyterian minister because of his views on the ordination. He then turned to Unitarianism. This article was negative towards Clay McCauley because of this. I tried researching the partisan affiliation of The Congregationalist and the Boston Recorder but I did not find any affiliation.
The next interesting thing I found on the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers database was what appeared to be an article written by Clay McCauley himself, entitled Isolation on the Battlefield. I found this article by searching “MacCauley, Clay” instead of “McCauley, Clay”, due to the discrepancy in regards to the spelling of his surname. It was published in The Atchison Daily Globe on July, 11, 1888. I have interpreted this article to be a description of McCauley’s experience in the civil war.
Isolation on the Battle Field by Clay MacCauley. Article courtesy of 19th Century U.S. Newspapers.
I was very happy to find this article because I think it can prove to be very valuable if I decide to use Clay McCauley for my project.I knew from previous research that McCauley served in the civil war and was taken prisoner by the confederate army but I did not have much further information on his experience in the war. This article gives a firsthand account of how Clay McCauley felt while fighting in the civil war.
By far the best article I found on Clay McCauley was entitled “Progress in Japan” and was published in the Morning Oregonian on August, 1, 1895. I also found this article on the 19th Century U.S Newspapers database by adding Japan as one of my search terms, since I knew from previous research that Clay McCauley did missionary work in Japan. It thoroughly details Clay McCauley’s missionary work in Japan. It describes his work at the Senshin Sakuin school, which he was the head of. The school focused on religion, ethics, and the social sciences. The article contains quotes from Clay McCauley himself and a synopsis of his life story. I learned things about Clay McCauley that I did not know before, such as that he ministered to many congressmen, politicians, and even Spencer Fullerton Baird. I think this newspaper will prove to be very helpful if I choose to focus on Clay McCauley during my research project.
Although I found 19th Century Newspapers to be a useful and user-friendly database, I also wanted to use a database that had a more extensive date range. The next database I looked at in regards to Clay McCauley was the Chronicling America database created by the Library of Congress.
I found an 1899 article from the Vermont Watchman entitled “McCauley Refuted”. The article recounts how McCauley made statements regarding General Otis and Admiral Dewey’s views on the war in the Philippines. Apparently, McCauley said that General Otis and his subservient officers opposed the war and that Admiral Dewey intended to leave Manila. These statements were immediately controversial and quickly recounted. The article describes McCauley as a man who talks too much. What I found the most interesting about this article is that McCauley knew Admiral Dewey personally, someone who fellow member of the class of 1862, Benjamin Lamberton, worked with in the navy. This article makes me wonder if there is some kind of connection between Clay McCauley and Benjamin Lamberton outside of Dickinson College.
Benjamin Lamberton
I began my newspaper research on Benjamin Lamberton by using a database called Historical Archives. I did a simple search of his name. I found an obituary from the Washington Post entitled, “B.P. Lamberton Dies of Heart Disease in D.C.: Spanish American War Veteran, 60, Had Been Ill Two Week”, and I assumed this was about the same Benjamin P. Lamberton I have been researching. However, once I read the article it turned out it was about a Benjamin Paulding Lamberton from Maine who took part in the Spanish American War. This goes to show that multiple people can have the same name and to always be cognizant of this.
I began to wonder if this other Benjamin P. Lamberton was a relative of the Benjamin P. Lamberton. I went to ancestry.com and searched for Benjamin Lamberton. I found some information regarding his parents and wife but I was not able to get concrete information on his children. It could be possible that this other Benjamin Lamberton is a descendent, but so far my research has not been able to confirm or deny.
I did find an obituary from the Washington Post about Benjamin Peffer Lamberton. I think this obituary is very valuable because it describes Lumberton’s career, experience in the Spanish-American war, hunting escapades with President Cleveland and his death. I think this obituary is the most helpful and informative article I have found on Benjamin Lamberton.
1899 Washington Post article about Benjamin Lamberton being honored by Theta Delta Chi.
On the Historical Archives database, I also found a short article from the Washington Post about how Benjamin Lamberton was to be honored by Theta Delta Chi fraternity. I found this article to be interesting because it specifically references Dickinson College.
In the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers database, I found an article about Benjamin Lamberton going hunting with President Cleveland. I thought this article was compelling and Lamberton’s friendship with President Cleveland is an interesting fun fact.
George William Caruth
After my research on Clay McCauley and Benjamin Lamberton, I seemed to have hit a wall. I intended to research Martin Christian Herman and William P. Willey but my newspaper research on the two men did not rear any real results. This could be my own fault and I am not going to give up researching these two members of the class of 1862. However, I took this as an opportunity to research another member of the class of 1862 who I haven’t really looked at yet.
George William Caruth was born on March 7th, 1842 in Scottsville, Kentucky. He was a non-graduating member of the class of 1862. During his time at Dickinson, Caruth was a member of Sigma Chi and Union Philosophical Society. After college, he became a lawyer and then eventually Judge of the Supreme Court of Arkansas and a diplomat to Portugal.
Daily Arakansas Gazette article on George William Caruth.
The Daily Arkansas Gazette highlighted Caruth on his appointment. The article describes Caruth as an accomplished lawyer and distinguished man. The article speaks volumes on who George William Caruth was as a person and a professional. It is a good start into research on George William Caruth. The Daily Arkansas Gazette had a democratic political affiliation.
Reflection
I originally thought that I was going to be researching Clay McCauley, Benjamin Lamberton, Martin Christian Herman and William P. Willey. I had trouble finding articles on Martin Christian Herman and William P. Willey so I turned to other members of my class. I would encourage other students to look past the members of their class who they find to be the most interesting, because you may find valuable information regarding other class members.Overall, I was very happy with most of the articles I found during my research. I was especially pleased with the articles I found about Clay McCauley. It was very time consuming but I uncovered a lot of information that I did not find during my reference research or my archival research. I plan to expand on this research by using microfilm at the Dickinson College library.
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