Research in the 1920s

Belle_91 · Aug 3, 2018

Hey y'all,

I have a question about how someone might conduct research in the 1920s. My MC is a journalist in Boston in 1926. She wants to investigate alcohol poisonings both in Boston and in other cities like New York. How would she find recent articles from other papers, especially those printed out of state? Would a trip to NYC be involved or could she go to the Boston Public Library and see if they had archived the New York Times? Do they archive things even if they are recent?

Much appreciated. Thanks.

Marissa D · Aug 3, 2018

She'd probably start by going to the major paper(s) in town and doing research in the paper's "morgue" (google "newspaper morgue" to learn more.)

cornflake · Aug 3, 2018

Yes, libraries kept newspapers, and sure Boston would have the NYT. There's probably also other things, like the papers themselves, or like the NY Historical Society, which has physical papers even today you can access.

Siri Kirpal · Aug 3, 2018

Sat Nam! (Literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

The library for sure. If she needed ongoing information, she might even get a subscription.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

snafu1056 · Aug 4, 2018

Actually she might not even need to bother with newspapers. Crime statistics were already being compiled and catalogued by that period. I've seen catalogues of stats from even earlier than the 20s so they definitely existed and were probably available at libraries.

ironmikezero · Aug 4, 2018

Keep in mind that this was the era of Prohibition (1920 - 1933) . . .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States

Research in the 1920s

Belle_91

With her nose stuck in a book

Marissa D

Scribe of the girls in the basement

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

Siri Kirpal

Swan in Process

snafu1056

ironmikezero

practical experience, FTW