I was asked to write an essay for an anthology but the problem is....

Ok.....

The editor is a pretty prominent American Indian writer, she has read some of my stuff recently, and invited me to write an essay for an anthology she is putting together. Well, I am just getting to where people are starting to recognize me and my work, so I figure another anthology would definitely be good for more exposure etc. The thing is she asked me to write about somebody I do not know much about. That isn't necessarily a problem as I can go out and pour over some articles and books etc and do some serious research on the guy before I write anything. That's just part of the being curious about the world, about people and so on, I have no problem working hard and researching like that, in fact I love it. So I order a book from the Tucson library, the only one that had info on the guy, thinking that the essay in the book would supply me with a solid base. Well, the essay is from a book meant for junior high kids and it is only 3 sparse pages, haha. And, I do not like to rely on the internet solely for information, unless the articles are peer reviewed and from certain journals or respected experts.

So, my next step is I'm going to check the University of AZ to see if any historian or American Indian Studies Profs can help me out. If not, well, I just thank God that she asked me to write more than one essay for the book, because I'll just skip this person and move on to the other one, which I have plenty of material for. :)

Only I could make something so easy, absolutely difficult. :)

Who is the person you're trying to write about?

at the school. I also can access databases through the Pima County Library. I'm going to try that here in a bit. He's a labor organizer named Frank Little. It has to be precisely related to his work, and finding stuff tangible is a little tough.

All of a sudden I have to give a password to get into the databases from my school's website. x(

Guess 'cause the semester's over? I've no idea what my password would be.

probably no many people know about this person (of course all my supposition here might go out the window if one of those profs turns up a wealth of info for you) that would mean the best you can do as one of the first or earliest writers about him is to build a foundation for future (if there's interest) writers. I don't know the parameters of what is wanted for the essay but if it can fit there's going back to things like birth certificates, genealogies, finding descendants, visiting the places this person lived...all of which could give you more clues of where to look to expand on the subject or put something together to wet the interest of someone (perhaps you later) to build upon.

Just some thoughts from a completely unqualified person for giving advice to writers. :shrug: But hey just trying to give encouragement and perhaps even an oaf can hit the mark by accident. :)

I get no money to do any of that! :)

I know there is info out there, I just have to find the stuff I can get for free, haha. Can't afford to buy a book or anything. :)

I think some of these databases like Nexis and so on should have something. I don't really need all that much, I just like to be well-prepared, you know?

You're not making it difficult....

The difficulty arises from the absolute dearth of material on the guy....

I know you had nothing to do with that......

maybe I should just not commit to writing about this particular guy. :)

seriously? if he is that little known, even if he isn't THAT little known, he would probably be the best source of information, it's a little embarrassing that you know so little about him pre-interview but trust me if he's obscure he already knows he's obscure and he'd probably love the publicity and he'll help you get his name spelled right too :-)

and don't say you don't know how to get in touch w. him, native american studies ain't that big a field, heck, publish his name and i bet someone will PM you w. info in how to get in touch w. the guy, i might be able to get it myself who knows

now if the guy is already deceased, not sure what to suggest, but keep this in mind -- you don't have to protect the privacy of the dead, the dead have no privacy rights -- so, again, just post his name and if anyone knows maybe they'll help

:)

if he died in 1917, he has no privacy interest, publish the guy's name and ask for suggestions on finding more information

i'm just not seeing all the need for cia-like hugger-mugger here!

haha, on edit, i see you have given the name, and i'll see if i can find out anything, i do have a friend who is in native studies and who has some interest in labor, perhaps there will be a lead

like mentioning stuff too much in detail unless I am actually going to do it. That's why I didn't mention the name of the editor. I don't want info on the "internets" that I said I was going to do something I never actually did. :)

Yeah, the name is earlier, Frank Little. I do have some friends in AIS, well, I am an AIS minor. I am planning on doing another essay first, and haven't totally committed to this particular guy, so if I have a whole lot of trouble finding what I want on him, I may just commit to the one essay. But any info you can glean would be much appreciated. Thanks. :)

But he didn't talk about him much, so I can't really help you.

Most of what I know about him I saw from a documentary film about his murder a year or two ago. I remember the credits included references. You might want to look for that.

:)

I don't know if you'd get much out of the movie itself, but the references could be helpful.

On a side note: turns out Little's murder inspired the novel "Red Harvest" which inspired Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" which inspired Leone's "Fistful of Dollars," which is about gangs of thugs in the old west.

It's a crazy world.

for like the third time, and I own Fistful of Dollars. Truly a crazy world. :)