Historical Accuracy - Writers Forum

thamior · 07-20-2004, 05:21 AM

I want my book to have Historical Accuracy to the 1915 time period

. Unfortunetly I have to plan some events beforehand one of which I don't think falls into place which means i might have to change my book around. I was wondering when the massive irish immigration was. Also anybody that could help me with the 1915 time period is immensely thanked.

Spudley · 07-20-2004, 06:44 AM

The only thing I really know about 1915 is that it was bang in the middle of the First World War.

I don't know much else about the time, but I think that would make quite an impact on just about any story from then.

Airborneguy · 07-20-2004, 07:31 AM

WWI would definately have to play an important part of the story. In my book, the History Renewal Project, there were certain details that I had to research thoroughly. Anything that I wasn't too sure one, I tried not to mention prominently. An example would be the exact geography of New York City. I couldn't find much info on what the layout of the towns were. No really good maps, other than Manhattan itself. So I kept it simple, and stayed very general. Other than an expert of the times, no one would know the difference and it is still a great story (I hope)! If you go around making big statements and situations, you lose your historical accuracy.

sully474 · 07-20-2004, 09:09 AM

I just got a 95% in 20th Century Canadian history, what can I help you with.

eleutheromaniac · 07-20-2004, 09:57 AM

The Russian revolution started in 1914, and was scaring the hell out of everyone (everyone in power at least) it would certainly be prominent in any political discussions of that era.

You're way off with the Irish immigration, that was around the time of the emanicpation (unless there was a second wave that I am unaware of).

Disease was rampant during this time, and people were still using backward medical methods. The 1919 Stanley Cup was canceled due to an influenza epidemic, just to give you an example of how bad it was.

The industrial revolution was in full swing, and it was around this time workers began to get disgruntled. It was in the late 1880s that the first labour unions were formed, and by 1915 they would have gained momentum, but they would not be universally accepted until much later.

thamior · 07-20-2004, 11:57 AM

perhaps i'll give you some story backdrop so that you can know what kind of info I need

. (btw i know when WW1 is

).

Its basically about a plot to rob a bank with the guarantee not to get caught (so they plan carefully). The bank is in a small New England village that happens to be on a major road heading south. The bank is owned by a 2nd Generation Irishman and the story uses the view points of:

>The gang leader of the robbers (around 30 yrs of age)
> One of the robbers who falls in love with the daughter of the banker
(21 yrs of age)
> The bankers daughter(19 yrs of age)
> Bankers wife (35 somethin yrs of age)

Other important characters are:
> The bankers son (16 yrs of age)
> A robber nicknamed "slick"
> The banker (around 40 yrs of age)

The book will happen in approxiamtely a years time so if it takes place in 1915 i dont need info for much of 1916. I forgot about WW1 but i remember now so i'll move it back to 1910. Kinds of info I need are manners, classes, styles of dress, romance various things like that thats not to specific and I have a general Idea I just want to be right

.

Airborneguy · 07-20-2004, 02:12 PM

You might want to look into the bank aspects you have there. Had Irish immigrants reached the level where they owned bussinesses like that? Banks recquire a ton of captital, you don't just start a bank, even then (which really isn't all that long ago). Also, banking is not a family affair, like a general store. Considering New England at the time, were the people trusting enought to put their hard earned fishing money in a bank, especially one run by an immigrant?

thamior · 07-21-2004, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

You might want to look into the bank aspects you have there. Had Irish immigrants reached the level where they owned bussinesses like that? Banks recquire a ton of captital, you don't just start a bank, even then (which really isn't all that long ago). Also, banking is not a family affair, like a general store. Considering New England at the time, were the people trusting enought to put their hard earned fishing money in a bank, especially one run by an immigrant?

thats the kind of info ive been looking for

. so i'll have to think of things around it. I figured that perhaps with some luck (i may try to find some better solid things than luck though) they could be sucessful as their customers are not only fisherman and such but plenty of wealthy people use it as a source to (some unknown fame i have to develop). As far as family afair like a general store i dont know what you mean. Only one person from the fammily works at it (owns it) but the son is going to go into banking.

Airborneguy · 07-21-2004, 07:48 AM

I highly doubt that the situation you propose would have existed back then. What I meant by "general store" is more like a mom and pop type establishment. To start a bank, you need an immense amount of capital. You can't just buy a building and start changing money and making loans. An Irish immigrant from the early 1900's would be depositing in a bank (if he even trusted it), not really owning it. Your family would have to be incredibly rich for the times. Also, think back to your great-grandparents: they were very distrustful of banks and generally kept their money at home. Mine literally kept it under their matress. If you want to be historically accurate in this case, you have a lot of research ahead of you.

thamior · 07-21-2004, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

I highly doubt that the situation you propose would have existed back then. What I meant by "general store" is more like a mom and pop type establishment. To start a bank, you need an immense amount of capital. You can't just buy a building and start changing money and making loans. An Irish immigrant from the early 1900's would be depositing in a bank (if he even trusted it), not really owning it. Your family would have to be incredibly rich for the times. Also, think back to your great-grandparents: they were very distrustful of banks and generally kept their money at home. Mine literally kept it under their matress. If you want to be historically accurate in this case, you have a lot of research ahead of you.

the immigrant was from the 1860's, the owner of the bank is 2nd generation. As for starting capital the family was already somewhat wealthy before arriving having had a shipping buisness in ireland. When famine struck they moved to the United States for better money making potential.
I need the bank as its the basis of my book. i got these ideas from a guy i talked to today.

Wyndham · 07-21-2004, 03:50 PM

Most of my writing takes place in the here and now, but I think the people who write best about a time in the past are those who already know the time period well–– have studied and researched it as an amateur or professional–– and then build a story into it. I would think that it would be very difficult to write an authentic piece when you are starting out with the story and then trying to find the facts to fit it.

If you only need to build the story around a privately owned bank in a small town, which employs other family members, you don't need to go back that far. It really hasn't been that long that banks have become huge businesses. Just before my daughter was born, 18 years ago, one of my benefits consulting clients was a small privately owned bank in a small town on the southern border of Pennsylvania. The bank president was still the most prominent man in the town. Perhaps something more recent would be easier to learn about.

Just a suggestion.

thamior · 07-22-2004, 04:52 AM

perhaps but it really would work well for the time period, I think more people are trying to dissuade me than help though

.

Airborneguy · 07-22-2004, 07:39 AM

I'm not trying to disuade you at all. You wanted to be historically accurate right? If so, then you are hearing very good tips on how to be. If you don't want to be historically accurate, or don't care, fine by me.

thamior · 07-22-2004, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airborneguy

I'm not trying to disuade you at all. You wanted to be historically accurate right? If so, then you are hearing very good tips on how to be. If you don't want to be historically accurate, or don't care, fine by me.

i do i just need tips on how to fix problems so instead of the bank idea can t work perhaps you could say a suggestion like the one i ended up doing. (its crucial to the plot)

Nimbus1944 · 07-29-2004, 06:08 PM

For those who think that a second-generation couldn't own a bank:

http://www.didyouknow.cd/banks.htm

My great-great-grandparents arrived in New York and Upper Canada from Ireland in the 1840s. Their children were in business (no banks, darn it) and raising kids of their own by the 1870s. That's all the time it takes.... with hard work.