History Commons^™

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 12: How Good Was Wallace's Memory?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) continues to be criticized for inconsistencies in his recollections of the earlier events in his life. This criticism, while not entirely unjust, has nevertheless been overplayed. Critics have not attended to the general understanding that self-biography is under the influence of two aspects of memory: that pertaining to remembrance of the qualities of past situations, and a secondary ability to assign absolutes of name or date to such memories. All evidence suggests that Wallace’s memory in the first sense was excellent throughout his life, but that he was prone to lapses of the second type.

Ua37/2 Corona Paper, Ellen Micheletti

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Paper written regarding Ellen Micheletti's experiences during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.

Martin, Jerry Wayne, B. 1935 (Sc 3535), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3535. Two monographs by Dr. Jerry W. Martin, Bowling Green, Kentucky: “Reflections at the Wall,” presented at the Vietnam War Memorial, Washington, D.C. on 8 September 2001, and “A Bone Called Luz,” prepared in connection with a presentation to the EQB Club, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Discussion On 'A.R. Wallace In The Light Of Historical Method' By John Van Whye, Charles H. Smith, George Beccaloni, James D. Williams, Derek Partridge

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

The recent article by historian John van Wyhe purports to identify seventeen ‘myths’ concerning the life and work of naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Here we briefly describe what we feel is wrong with them, and refer to published literature that extend these arguments. Our objections do not extend to the ‘historical method’ van Wyhe adopts, but instead to the way he has ignored the criticisms of peers to the extent of not even acknowledging their scholarly articles.

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 11: Wallace, Darwin, Education, & The Class Question, Charles H. Smith, James D. Williams

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

In a recent paper by John van Wyhe (2020), the issue of class was discussed and whether Wallace came from a “working class” background. As a result of class differences could or should Wallace be considered differently from Darwin, who supposedly came from a higher class? An additional “myth” highlighted was whether Wallace left school, aged 14, due to difficult family financial circumstances. Van Wyhe contends that Darwin and Wallace were both middle class, and Wallace left school at the “normal” school-leaving age. This article shows that both contentions are mistaken. Class in the 19th century was complex and difficult, …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 10: The Impact Of A.R. Wallace's Sarawak Law Paper Resurrected, Charles H. Smith, Derek Partridge

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Six assertions that relate to the impact of Wallace’s Sarawak Law paper1 on the development of evolution theory have been proposed and analyzed by John van Wyhe.2 He concluded that they were all erroneous. The analysis presented a valid criticism of some casual and over-confident pronouncements with respect to interpretations of history. More significantly, it is a misguided attempt to expose “original historical meanings,” and thereby dismiss all other interpretations as necessarily incorrect. A re-analysis reveals that, contrary to van Wyhe’s analysis, much of the conventional wisdom is plausibly correct, and it remains the case that “the past is a …

The Evolution Of College Algebra: Competencies And Themes Of A Quantitative Reasoning Course At The University Of Kentucky, Scott Taylor

Dissertations

For many institutions, especially community colleges, college algebra has been the default mathematics or quantitative reasoning requirement. However, the topics that have been taught in college algebra, teaching methods, and the goals of a quantitative reasoning requirement have changed and vary over time and among different institutions. Because of history, policy, and political influences, this study sought to explore commonalities and disparities of college algebra as it has evolved through the University of Kentucky. The three central research questions were What have been the common topics or themes of the competencies and topics covered in CA over the years at …

"In Space" Or "As Space": Three Dimensions Or Not?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

First Paragraph: Alfred Russel Wallace (1823 – 1913), the celebrated British naturalist and social critic, is best known for his independent discovery of the principle of natural selection, and for his key role in the development of the field of evolutionary biogeography. But his interests extended to well beyond these subjects: he was also an important anthropologist, physical geographer, land reform theorist, social critic, and early exobiologist. By the end of his life he was one of the most respected scientists in the world – and this, despite his concurrent attachment to a number of less mainstream side-infatuations including spiritualism, …

Cook, George Washington 1865-1928 (Sc 3072), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3072. Article of agreement allowing G.W. Cook, Snowville, Barren County, Kentucky, free use of subscribers’ telephone line if he provides reciprocal access to lines running from Fountain Run, Monroe County, Kentucky, to his property.

Architecture On Trial: The Porters And The Pest House, Lynn E. Niedermeier

Lynn E. Niedermeier

When young Amelia Porter contracted smallpox in September 1902, a legal battle ensued between her parents, who wanted her cared for at home, and Bowling Green, Kentucky physician and State Board of Health secretary Dr. Joseph N. McCormack, who demanded that the family be quarantined in the local "pest house" until determined not to be contagious. The lawsuit raised issues of medical expertise, individual rights vs. public safety, the adequacy of Bowling Green's quarantine hospital, and the personality and tactics of McCormack, whose crusades for public health legislation had earned him many enemies.

Jackson, Alfred Metcalfe (Sc 306), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 306. Account book of Alfred Metcalfe Jackson, a physician in South Carrollton, Kentucky.

Truman, Lee C., Jr. (Sc 332), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 332. Photocopy of a speech titled “Telephone History—Bowling Green, Ky.,” which Lee C. Truman, Jr. delivered on 17 November 1970 at the Warren County Historical Society about telephone service in Bowling Green from 1880 to 1967.

Yandell, David Wendel, 1826-1898 (Sc 333), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 333. Photocopy of a letter written by Dr. David Wendel Yandell to General Albert Sidney Johnston, concerning projected Confederate hospital facilities at Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1861. Explanatory note about the item from William Roberts Wood to Margie Helm.

Wallace, Spiritualism, And Beyond: "Change," Or "No Change"?, Charles H. Smith

DLPS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bittersweet: The Louisville And Nashville Railroad And Warren County, Jonathan Jeffrey

SCL Faculty and Staff Book Gallery

Warren County’s lengthy rail heritage dates from the chartering of a small tramway from the boat landing to central Bowling Green in 1936, to the construction of a magnificent rail station in 1925, to cessation of passenger service in 1979. When private and federal monies enabled Bowling Green depot’s restoration in the mid-1990’s, many citizens professed a renewed interest in Warren County’s rail heritage. Bittersweet briefly discusses rail development in the United States and then explores the love-hate relationship that Bowling Green experienced with the L&N. Of particular significance was the city’s twenty-four year battle for construction of the 1925 …

Sericulture, Silk And South Union Shakers, Donna C. Parker, Jonathan J. Jeffrey

SCL Faculty and Staff Publications

Kentucky Shakers were particularly adept at the process of producing silk. Kentucky's temperate climate was conducive to mulberry tree cultivation and sericulture, the raising of silkworms. South Union Sisters hatched and grew silkworms to harvest the delicate silk fibers they used in the manufacture of kerchiefs, neckwear, hat bands, bonnets, and sewing silk. Occasionally entire garments such as dresses were made from the luxurious silk.

Ua35/11 Student Honors Research Bulletin, Wku Honors Program

WKU Archives Records

The WKU Student Honors Research Bulletin is dedicated to scholarly involvement and student research. These papers are representative of work done by students from throughout the university.

• Basham, Penny. The Ritalin Controversy: Hyperactive Children and Medication
• Buote, Kim. The Transmission of Negative Feedback: Obstacles, Effects and Suggestions
• Cowan, James. The 1988 Presidential Primaries: Search for Bandwagons
• Durfey, Suzanne. AIDS: Nutrition and Its Implications
• Felty, Jeff. Gay and Lesbian Couples
• Gilliland, Linda. Muffins and Aspartame or Sucrose
• Graham, Ken. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Grubbs, Morris. Conflicts and Synthesis in Robert Penn Warren's Blackberry Winter
• Medeiros, Lynne. Problems of Democratic Republicism in …

Ua68/8/3 The Student Researcher, Vol. I, No. I, Phi Alpha Theta

Student Organizations

Publication of the Eta-Pi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. This issue includes:

• Baird, Nancy. Kentucky and the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878
• Belcher, Christopher. Schopenhauer in History--Sources, Characteristics, Influences
• Daley, Ronald. Norwegians in North Dakota: Immigration and Early Settlement
• O'Sullivan, Mary. Public Opinion, the Press, and the Dreyfus Affair
• Baird, Nancy. Horse Boots: A Nineteenth Century Kentucky Industry

Luke Pryor Blackburn: The Good Samaritan, Nancy Baird

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Luke Pryor Blackburn, Kentucky’s only physician governor, is one of the forgotten public health figures of the 19^th century. As health officer of Natchez in the 1850s he instituted the first effective quarantine used in the Mississippi Valley and became a strong advocate of its use as a preventive measure in the control of yellow fever. During his lifetime Blackburn also became well known for his unselfish aid to communities stricken with the disease.

In March 1878 announced his candidacy for governor of his native state. Local politicians scoffed at his chances for election, but his actions during the …

Asiatic Cholera In Kentucky 1832 To 1873, Nancy Baird

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Asiatic cholera has been called the scourge of the nineteenth century, for it caused the untimely death of millions throughout the world. During its four visits to the United States, unknown thousands of Kentuckians fell victims to the disease. In attempting to prevent the dreaded scourge, Kentuckians became more conscious of the need for cleaner cities, pure water and adequate sewage disposal. Modern waterworks facilities, sewage treatment and disposal facilities have provided the means by which the United States has conquered this scourge of the nineteenth century, for with these facilities cholera is the easiest of all communicable diseases to …

An Interpretive Study Of Some Kentucky Biologists, Rachel Winstead

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study was undertaken with the idea of bringing together information concerning some of the most important Kentuckians who have made contributions to the biological sciences. In order that we may better understand and appreciate the work done by these men, it was thought best to give a brief discussion of the major periods in the history of biological development. An attempt will be made to interpret the contributions of the men discussed, according to the period in which they lived. Only a sufficient number of men are discussed in each epoch to give a correct picture of the trends …