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