Intro:
Although my search for secondary sources proved to be less difficult than my search for primary sources, it still challenged me in unexpected ways. Where most sources were relatively easy to find, some took me much longer to discover than I anticipated. In this endeavor, I learned the importance of reading through my sources before planning on using them. This is a vital step in the research process because it saves time. I am excited to take the research skills that I have learned from this project into future assignments.
“Bury Me in a Free Land”:
In my search for secondary sources on Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the American National Biography was extremely helpful. It was by far the most efficient method I have used to obtain information. All it took was one search of Harper’s full name to access her biography. I will surely be using this database again.
When looking for sources on Harper’s intention in writing “Bury Me in a Free Land,” I knew that I would be researching for a long time. Though I did not find materials on Harper’s intention specifically in writing “Bury Me in a Free Land”, I did find a source that explained her overarching goal as an abolitionist and as a poet. To reach this source, I first searched on JSTOR and the MLA Library. While these sources did not help my research process, the source that I found on the Waidner-Sphar Library did. The source was a link to a ProQuest report and contained the author’s musings on what Harper’s goal as a poet was. Although this source was much harder to find than Harper’s biography, it may be even more integral to my essay than the latter.
“Because I could not stop for Death”:
For some reason, I have been hard-pressed to find information connecting Emily Dickinson’s writing to the Civil War. Although the biography I found of her on the American National Biography database was not sufficient for my essay, I encountered a quality biography on Google Scholar. Google Scholar has been my last resort for finding books, reports, and collections that (usually) aren’t behind a paywall. After checking both the MLA Library and JSTOR, the biography that best reflected Dickinson’s experiences during the Civil War and how it affected her poetry was on Google Scholar. Though some of the book can only be accessed by purchasing the content, the material that I need for my final essay can be found in the extensive sample of the work. I am glad to have read through my other options, though, as they have given me much to think about. Additionally, if I had not read my potential sources before adding them to my list, I would not have known that they would not benefit my essay and I would have had to do extra research closer to the essay’s due date, which would have been extraordinarily stressful.
As I was researching Dickinson, it occurred to me that it would be helpful if I referred to other authors’ reactions to her frequent references to death in her poems. The subject is clearly important to her, and thus it is important for me to know. I was lucky to find this source so quickly; I usually check JSTOR first for my secondary resources and found this paper in around ten minutes. Despite my good fortune in this endeavor, I know that the research process is not always smooth sailing. One must be prepared to spend at least an hour researching for a historical close reading essay, especially if the essay contains three different works. It is difficult work, but extremely worthwhile.
“Shiloh: A Requiem”
In my experience, researching secondary sources has proven to be much easier than finding primary sources. This makes sense as primary sources are often old letters, materials, or books/newspapers, and these things are not always available outside of archives (or at all). Fortunately, the American National Biography was very helpful and turned up a biography for Herman Melville immediately. I am glad to know of this resource as it makes searching for biographies much more efficient.
While I am not yet sure what the thesis of my essay will be, I have a few ideas. I know that I will certainly include the ponderings of critics/writers on the poems I am going to discuss. Unfortunately, my search for analyses of “Shiloh: A Requiem” yielded unsatisfactory results, so I had to, once more, resort to Google Scholar. There I found a publication by a university professor that I knew would add to my essay in many ways. I am pleased with my focus on reading each source before selecting it as this ensures that I do not accidentally use sources that do not actually contribute to my essay.
Conclusion:
My research process for secondary sources taught me many essential lessons. I now know the time-saving practice of reading sources in their entirety before attempting to include them in a paper, and that even if one source is easy to find, another might lead me on a wild goose chase. To future Dickinsonians, I would recommend paying great attention to the contents of a source and to not force a source to support your claim. If something doesn’t work, it is best to cut your losses and move on rather than spending hours drawing weak inferences. I’ve had to learn these points the hard way, and I will make every attempt to avoid making the same mistakes as I have in the past (and in this research process). I can’t wait to get started on my essay with the sources I worked so hard to collect.
Bibliography:
Locke, Mamie E. “Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins” American National Biography. 1 Feb. 2000 [WEB]
Loyd, David. ““All Is Hushed At Shiloh”: A Reminiscence.” Border States On-Line no. 8 (1991) [GOOGLE SCHOLAR]
McCaskill, Barbara. “Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s Ethics of Personal Rest and National Restoration.” Legacy 41, no. 2 (2024): 238-245. [PROQUEST]
McNaughton, Ruth Flanders “Emily Dickinson on Death.” Prairie Schooner 23, no. 2 (1949): 203–14. [JSTOR]
Parker, Hershel. “Melville, Herman.” American National Biography. 1 Feb. 2000 [WEB]
Pollak, Vivian R. A Historical Guide to Emily Dickinson. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004 [GOOGLE BOOKS]
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