Jvolgarino (2021) recently asked fellow members of the Society of Automotive Historians where they get their information. This invariably led to a discussion about the difficulties of obtaining primary sources of information.
Primary sources are the holy grail of professional historians because they are considered more authoritative than secondary sources. A primary source can include an original document such as corporate board minutes, a dated prototype photograph or correspondence from a historical figure.
Perhaps the most popular primary source is an eye witness account by a retired car designer or higher-level executive. The big problem with this type of information is that it may not be accurate for any number of reasons, from faulty memory to attempts to shift blame.
Popular auto history media tend to rely mostly on secondary sources of information, such as books, magazines and newspaper articles. This is for an obvious reason — it can be a lot easier digging into one’s stash of old Car and Driver magazines than taking a 2,000-mile trip to a library that archives relevant historical documents.
Getting primary information can take a lot of work
Walt G (2021) noted that seeking out historical information can be like “wanting to see a car collection — the collection will not relocate for your convenience or pleasure, you have to go to it. It took me years/decades to finally get to see the library at the National Motor Museum in England. Beaulieu is not near London where most people fly into and out of. It was many hours travel to get down to the SW corner of England to get to the museum.”
The historian’s work may have only just begun once they get to their destination. Walt G (2021) noted that library and museum staff can be very helpful, but they won’t have the time to scan desired documents. A historian can thus spend a considerable amount of time digging through boxes and boxes of materials.
Academics tend to do more archival research
It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy this type of work. For example, Packard historian James A. Ward wrote how he “relished the opportunity to work with typewritten corporate records” (1995, pp. 1-2). This illustrates how university faculty tend to have more interest — and perhaps time as well — to toil away in the back rooms of libraries and museums.
Also see ‘Wheel spinning happens when car buffs and scholarly historians don’t collaborate’
We should be glad that someone does such tedious work. For example, by digging through Studebaker-Packard documents, Robert R. Ebert (2013) found that the corporation’s board of directors had tabled a proposed 1962 four-cylinder junior Lark prior to the arrival of Sherwood Egbert. This is contrary to some other accounts, which apparently relied upon oral interviews or secondary sources.
Indie Auto has thus far focused on analyzing the work of others rather than digging up new information. This is not for lack of interest in spending time working with primary documents. After all, I do have a doctorate. My main limitation has been the cost of traveling to the relevant libraries in other parts of the country. So if you would like to see Indie Auto engage in more original research, please consider making a donation here.
RE:SOURCES
- Ebert, Robert R.; 2013. Champion of the Lark: Harold Churchill and the Presidency of Studebaker-Packard, 1956-1961. McFarland & Company, London.
- Jvolgarino; 2021. “Where do you get your information?” Society of Automotive Historians discussion forum. Posted Feb. 11; accessed March 23.
- Walt G; 2021. Commentator in “Where do you get your information?” Society of Automotive Historians discussion forum. Posted Feb. 11; accessed March 23.
- Ward, James A.; 1995. The Fall of the Packard Motor Car Company. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA.
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