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Dissertation Information for Frances Ernest Walsh

NAME:
- Frances Ernest Walsh

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1987)

ADVISORS:
- Margaret M. Kimmel

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- E. Blanche Woolls
- Wendell Wray
- Ellen Detlefsen
- Mary Elizabeth David

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: The American Revolution as presented in historical novels for children: Dissertation

Abstract: The study of the American Revolution is central to children's study of American history. The American Revolution is the past event that serves as the basis for the American tradition; it is the source of our national character. It was the past event that writers of children's books sought first to portray, and such portrayal may well have been instrumental in popularizing the genre of historical fiction for children. Meticulously researched, well-written historical novels are an important means through which children can come to an understanding of what the Revolution was and how it affected the lives of people.

Authorities tell us that because Americans look to the history of the Revolution "for clues to American identity," and because at the same time "their beliefs about themselves as a people influence what they perceive to be the nature...of the Revolution,...each generation interprets and reinterprets the American Revolution." (1) This historical study of children's Revolutionary War novels has been undertaken to discover what successive generations of writers have been telling children about the Revolution and whether these writers have been influenced by prevailing historiographic theories or trends.

As comprehensive as possible a bibliography of all children's novels that center on the Revolutionary War was compiled. To ensure that the most significant literary works were analyzed in the study, a purposive sample of award-winning books and books recommended by selected children's literature authorities was drawn. The research methodology chosen to study this sample was content analysis. Books were analyzed to determine whether prevailing historiographic theories influenced the writers, whether the attitudes of writers revealed a pattern of change throughout the years, and whether the narrative structure of the books themselves revealed any pattern of change.

The study concludes that prevailing historiographic theories have influenced the way the Revolution has been presented to children in historical novels. It concludes also that authors' attitudes have changed over the years from a concern for the country--a concern for the cause--to a concern for the individual.

MPACT Scores for Frances Ernest Walsh

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:23:03

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Students under Frances Ernest Walsh

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None