Assignment for November 16 HIS 4104 - Historical Epistemology CRN 81180

"Italian Mother and Child" Jacob Riis, Photographer Copyright (c) 1996 Museum of the City of New York

READINGS:

After the Fact, "The Strange Death of Silas Deane"	Pages xvii-iv
After the Fact, "Serving Time in Virginia"	Pages 1-21
After the Fact, "The Mirror with a Memory"	Pages 177-200
After the Fact, "Instant Watergate"	Pages 329-355

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT:

1. From the reading "The Strange Death of Silas Deane": How did Deane die? What does the controversy tell you about the evidence in the article "Serving Time in Virginia"?

2. From the reading "Serving Time in Virginia": How do YOU analyze the debate about the truthfullness of John Smith's story? (Remember, as you answer this, that the information changed in various editions, so take into consideration the subsequent editions of his work in your answer.) Which side do you agree with? Why?

3. From the reading "The Mirror with a Memory": In analyzing photographic or art evidence of the past, what manipulations are possible or evident? What manipulations are possible today? What are the ramifications of these manipulations in the writing of the future about our time period?

4. From the reading "Instant Watergate": From your analysis of the reading, did Woodward and Bernstein write histories of the Watergate affair? Explain your answer. What problems lie with future researchers with their lack of sources? What can be done to overcome this? How would you overcome something like this when dealing with sources that have long since died?

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