Using First-Hand Accounts
I’m giving my presentation on the marvelous collection of letters titled Dear Mother this Saturday up at the Loon Lake Library. (If you’re in the area—be sure to stop by at 2:00!) So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much I prefer first-hand accounts when it comes to research.
When I first discovered these letters from Marinus Crommelin, I was blown away by how much detail I could obtain about everyday life from reading them. Yes, it takes a lot of reading, but it’s so enjoyable, I don’t mind it in the least. And the pay-off is worth it to know my characters in my books are experiencing real life based on accounts from actual people from history.
For example, first read these lines from the letters about the train Marinus took into Spokane:
“This is the nicest train I ever traveled in, electrical lights and an observation car with a balcony with which one gets a good view of the tracks…. Traveling by train is very easy going, every once in a while you are stopped at a water tower…and then the horse gets something to drink. Soon all the men and women who are quickly on their feet disembark and stretch their legs a bit until the conductor, who stands up front, calls ‘all aboard’ and the train starts to move at once and then everyone has to get moving because soon they are moving at a good clip. The locomotives are real giants and so they should be to pull such a heavy train steady at a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour. What is annoying is the whistle, this one does not resemble ours but resembles more that of the mooing of a cow but muffled and always 3 bursts at the time.”
These quotes informed the following lines in the prologue of The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Taker:
Three short bursts sounded from the whistle, resembling the mooing of a cow more than anything. The new electrical lights flickered as the train chugged slowly, slowly to a stop with a screech of brakes that signaled to all passengers it was time for a brief respite.
All passengers but those in this private stateroom, of course.
“Don’t move,” said the sheriff, narrowing his eyes at the prisoner before standing to block the door and watch the other passengers shuffle by.
The sound of feet and laughter passed them as others disembarked, making use of the short time the steam engine required to refill on water to enjoy the end-of-summer sunshine and a leg-stretch, knowing the train would leave without them when it was finished if they weren’t quick enough…
The sheriff nodded at the passengers returning to their seats, eyeing each one carefully but only seeing everyday men and women, no shifty accomplices. He could hear the conductor outside calling in a carrying voice, “All aboard!” as the train gave a lurch and started moving east again.
You’ll have to find out what happens with the thief when you read my book! 😉
In addition to the Dear Mother letters, other first-hand accounts that informed my book include articles from the Spokesman-Review from 1901, the Polk’s City Directory for Spokane in 1901, the History of Spokane County by Edwards published in 1900, and a myriad of cookbooks from the era (to learn more about what you can learn from 19th century cookbooks, come to my presentation on October 19 at 2:00 at the East Side Spokane Library). These are just some of my sources, but through them I was able to provide realistic dialogue, culture, and occurrences for my characters. I am so grateful to have these sources to hand, and am excited every time I discover a new one.
If you know of a first-hand resource, perhaps letters, a cookbook, or a diary, with local history for Spokane circa 1901, please be sure to contact me!
Also, be sure to come by and hear my presentation this Saturday, October 5, at 2:00 at the Loon Lake Library on Dear Mother. See you there!
