Indiana Magazine of History

[Rob Wick]

I just received word yesterday that the Indiana Magazine of History has agreed to publish an article I wrote concerning Ida M. Tarbell and Indiana. The working title of my piece is "'He Was a Friend of Us Poor Men': Ida M. Tarbell and Indiana’s Role in the Development of Abraham Lincoln’s View of Democracy." As the title suggests, the article is a study of how Tarbell approached her study of Lincoln's views of democracy and the role that his time in Indiana played. I argue that Tarbell's views of Lincoln evolved as her life and the events surrounding her evolved. I also show that her study of Lincoln grew from an attempt to classify and report the direct influences that the area had on Lincoln to consider the intellectual and more esoteric influences he faced and how they informed his views of democracy, along with Tarbell's own views. Finally, I show that Tarbell's critics, who accused her of hero worship, were mistaken and failed to see that Tarbell worshipped the democracy that she believed Lincoln emulated, which in a way also explains her viewpoint throughout her journalistic life. Those who furthered American democracy (like Lincoln) were worthy of praise while those who took advantage of it to enrich themselves (John D. Rockefeller) earned her scorn.

The editor told me the peer review reader was very enthusiastic about the article, and, for the first time that I've ever experienced, had no suggestions as to revisions. She wants to publish it as the anchor article for the December 2018 issue. While the journal does have back issues online, there is a two-year gap between where they stop and the current issues. Once the article is published, I will make it available on my Academia page for those interested in reading it.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Congratulations Rob!
As I was reading this to Dixie (aka Fido) , she was entirely focused on what I was saying and enthusiastically wagging her tail.
(She assured me it had nothing to do with the breakfast I was sharing with her)

[RJNorton]

Congratulations Rob!

I second Gene!

[Susan Higginbotham]

Congratulations!

[Steve]

Congratulations Rob! It sounds like a very interesting read!

[STS Lincolnite]

Congrats Rob! I will be looking forward to reading it.

[Thomas Kearney]

Sorry folks, it's been a while since I visited. Thanks for sharing, Rob.

[L Verge]

Congratulations, Rob, and we're glad to see that you are still pursuing research on Ida Tarbell. What is the status of this work eventually becoming a book?

When you first started posting about her, I recognized her name only as a muckraker from an old history class. I am now in that stage of learning where I want to know more about semi-forgotten/completely forgotten figures in U.S. history. If you even say "muckraker" nowadays, I bet 90+% of our citizens would not know what you are talking about.

[Rob Wick]

Thanks everyone.

At this point, I'm focusing on articles in order to show publishers that I have the ability to complete a book-length study. I've got another started that will study the relationship between Tarbell and Albert J. Beveridge. Beveridge had a special dislike for Tarbell, turning her name into a verb. He often referred to people trying to "Tarbellize" the study of Lincoln.

Tarbell hated the term muckraker. She considered herself, first and foremost, a historical writer or biographer. Of course, like many things, the term stuck to those of that era. Although Tarbell didn't hold too many grudges, I think that's a tangential reason she didn't support Theodore Roosevelt in the 1912 presidential election, given that Roosevelt was the one who first referred to the journalists of that era as muckrakers. Of course, her support for Woodrow Wilson is far more complex, but I've always believed the speech TR gave played a small role.

Best
Rob

[LincolnMan]

Very exciting Rob. Please do let us know how we can obtain copies.

[Wild Bill]

Good job, Rob!

[Donna McCreary]

Congratulations Rob. I look forward to finding a copy and reading it.

[Rob Wick]

I just discovered that the December issue of the Indiana Magazine of History is now out. Unfortunately, the contract I signed prohibits me from putting a link to the article for anyone interested in reading it. However, I don't see anything that prohibits me from sending anyone a copy who would like it. If you want to PM me your email I'd be happy to send you a copy. Given the year that I've had, this is such a nice way to close it out. Here's hoping I can complete the next one which is a comparative study of Tarbell and Albert J. Beveridge and will be submitted to the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Looking foreword to reading it, thanks for the copy

[Donna McCreary]

Congratulations Rob!