15th century Wales / Appropriate ways to contact historians

I've contacted historians, but only academics. I use a university library to search journal articles as part of my research. The authors are typically attached to universities and it's pretty easy to find contact info for them. Contact was professional and referenced their paper; I told them who I was and why I was writing, then posed an initial question (one I wanted answered if that was the only answer I'd get from them) directly related to their work and hoped for a reply. I think all but one replied, but conversations rarely went past the actual content of the specific paper referenced and the initial question. It was usually pretty easy to tell from the response if they wanted to continue the conversation. Final email was always a thank you for your time.

Think of this as a form of professional networking, no different in communication and tone than you would at your day job.

And spell their names right when you acknowledge them if you end up publishing.

Dear Esteemed Historian;

I am writing a novel about blah,blah, which I understand you have knowledge of, and I have a few questions. Would it be okay to phone you or would you rather use email?

Thanks,

Esteemed Author

WeaselFire said:

Dear Esteemed Historian;

I am writing a novel about blah,blah, which I understand you have knowledge of, and I have a few questions. Would it be okay to phone you or would you rather use email?

Thanks,

Esteemed Author

Click to expand...

You see, I would hit delete straight away if someone sent that to me. Otoh, I would be responsive to someone who actually acknowledged my expertise, specified the questions they wanted to ask, and didn't expect an automatic yes.

WeaselFire said:

Dear Esteemed Historian;

I am writing a novel about blah,blah, which I understand you have knowledge of, and I have a few questions. Would it be okay to phone you or would you rather use email?

Thanks,

Esteemed Author

Click to expand...

Yeah, no, don't do this. Really. I say this as someone who has answered those inquiries for tenured profs, and as someone who has answered them as a specialist in my field.
It's rude. Faculty don't have a lot of spare time, generally. You're not a student, or colleague. They're doing you a huge favor.

Dear [Professor/ Dr.] Sion Jones:

I am a writer interested in the history of Owain Glyn Dŵr, and particularly, in the siege of Caernarfon Castle on 2 November 1401.

If you have the time, I'd appreciate any references you could suggest I read. I have already read [list references].

Thanks so much for your time,

[etc. etc.]

In general, I would suggest using email. I would also suggest that you Google the prof first, and in particulary, look for their C.V. and make sure that you've already checked anything on it that looks appropriate.

Use Project Muse, and JStor; your public library likely has access to one or the other; most university/college libraries have both.

Make sure you've checked Google Scholar, and use the standard variant spellings for Owain Glyn Dŵr.

I used to be curator for a railroad museum. I liked it when people had specific requests to make in writing, rather than putting me verbally on the spot:
* Can you send me a picture of railroad china that was used on the AT&SF?
* How far could a locomotive travel before it had to stop for water?
* Can you send me a picture of a Harvey House menu?
* Can you send me a photo of a railroad timetable from the 1930's?

So something along the lines of (but nicer than), "Dear so-and-so, I enjoyed your documentary on Caernarfon Castle. You were very knowledgeable on your subject. I am having trouble finding some facts on the subject, and hoped you could help me, or refer me to good resources. #1, #2, #3, #4. Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate your help. Sincerely."

Phrase your questions so that they can be answered with a short answer, and minimize the amount of open-endedness. If the historian is enthused about his subject and has the time, he won't feel constrained. But if the historian is distracted by fifty other things, keeping your questions short and to the point improves their likelihood of his shooting back at least minimal information in a spare moment.

* What were the start/end dates of the siege?
* Apart from Owain Glyndwr, who were the most notable parties involved?
* How large was the attacking force, and how many defenders held out against them?
* Are there any interesting anecdotes about the siege that bring color to history?