Before trying to access physical resources in the Lilly Library, we attempted to search the Lilly Library website and IUCAT for any results relating to Annie Besant. After putting "Annie Besant" in the search field of the Lilly Library website, we came across two resources. The first directed us to a manuscript collection called the Woodward, S.C. MSS. This collection contains correspondences, autographs, and photographs of people connected to theater. It was quite a long list of names, so we hit control + f in order to find where Besant's name was. It turns out there exists a photograph of Besant form a newspaper or a periodical. We also found this when browsing through the card catalogues at the Lilly Library. We looked up the last name Besant and found the same information listed on the card that was found online. Considering phase two asks specifically for a visual resource, this was pleasing to find.
The other search result discovered when searching the Lilly Library website for Annie Besant was a piece she had written featured in the Peter & Iona Opie Collection of Folklore and Related Topics. In order to quickly find where exactly her work was listed on the page, we again hit control + f and put in Besant. The work was titled "The Ancient Wisdom. An Outline of Theosophical Teachings" and was listed under Occult Folklore. It was published in 1922, several decades after Is the Bible Indictable? and English Republicanism.
After noticing the hint about "Blue Books", we talked to Rebecca Cape in order to discover the relation between this phrase and Annie Besant. She directed us to the website www.haldeman-julius.org that featured the pocket-sized series of little blue books. In the search bar, we typed in Besant to see if there would be any results. It turns out she wrote in little blue book #83 a piece called "Marriage: Its Past, Present and Future".
In order to see where else Besant could be found, we asked one of the employees at the Lilly Library for any collections relating to Freethought, and they gave us a list of Freethought pamphlets that included works by Annie Besant, Charles Bradlaugh, G.W. Foote, George Holyoake, Robert Ingersoll, Joseph McGabe, and Joseph Symes, and others. To request any materials from this list, you need to use a Lilly charge card indicating the collection and specific box item and number. The collection is BL2747, and there are 11 boxes in total. Listed by the work you wish to call up will be the number it is in the collection.
The inspiration for Besant to write Is the Bible Indictable? was a trial in which she and her publishing partner Charles Bradlaugh were tried for publishing a book on contraception by Charles Knowlton, called Fruits of Philosophy. A miniature copy of this book is kept in the Lilly Library. To see it, you need to fill out a charge card with the title, author, and call number (RG136.K73). You should also write on the card that the book is in the miniature vault. In the book, there is a note from the publishers that is a very interesting read. It includes an apology for the book, but also states that the great deal of good this book will do is grounds for its publication.
Tessa and Courtney
3 comments:
I found your discovery of the miniature book on contraception extremely interesting, and I would love to find out more about it, and the controversy surrounding it at the time it was published.
I think Besant's book on marriage would be good to look into further, particularly having just read Fuller and Millett's views on society, the structure of the family and women's role within it. Millett and Fuller both advocate for changes to social structure, of which marriage is such a big part, so I would be interested to see whether her views agreed with their opinions.
I think that your explanation of the steps that you used to search related material was very thorough, easy to understand, and easy to replicate. I also think it's great that you were able to find a visual resource, which was exactly what you were looking for.
Also, I found your use of control + f interesting. I had never heard of its use before, but now when I search I will be sure to use it to make my searched go more quickly.
The Freethought pamphlets you found could prove to be very useful while writing your longer paper later this semester, especially since there are so many authors you can compare/contrast Besant to.
Finally, its awesome that you guys were able to find out Besant's inspiration to write "Is the Bible Indictable?" because that will really help you to contextualize her position and the reasons why she wrote.
I am completely struck by the title, "Is the Bible Indictable?" I wonder, if you choose to use Besant for phase three, if a deeper look maybe into her background, specifically spiritually related, may bring to light interesting connections between her role as a women writer and how that situations the position from which she can ask the question, "Is the Bible Indictable?"
I also want to say you did a great job being very specific about how you went about finding your resources; I feel as though I would have no trouble accessing them myself.
A final thought... if you choose to stay with Besant I would definitely recommend going into the Lilly and really looking into related collections. This approach really helped me fill out and contextualize Gordimer, and I feel as though it could really bring a lot more to your research that might help situate Besant's opinions within her time. Best of Luck!
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