The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 4, March, 1903-December, 1903
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
It should be stated here that Mr. Bancroft justified his course to
those in the library by insisting that they furnished him merely with
rough notes, and that it would be necessary for him to rewrite the
work, or at any rate, considerable portions of it. This, had it been
done, would have been strictly in accord with the account of his
connection with the work as printed in the Literary Industries. But it
was not done, and the account as printed is incorrect.
Since the completion of the history, but one of the writers has
publicly claimed the authorship of the volumes written in the library.
Ill health, only too common with those who labored through the work,
has in most cases been a sufficient barrier to such action. Savage and
Bates remained in Mr. Bancroft's employ for a number of years engaged
in other work, and of course under such circumstances could not make
any claims. Nemos as a foreigner could not be expected to take much
interest in such matters, and his early return to Europe and
subsequent residence there have rendered it difficult for him to make
such a statement did he so desire. Mrs. Victor alone has printed a
general statement of the portions of the history written by her, a
course in which she was influenced by years of absolute independence
in directing her literary energies before entering Mr. Bancroft's
employ, and a consequent appreciation of the rights and honors of
authorship. Four volumes of the Bancroft histories were exhibited as
her work at the Mechanics Pavilion in San Francisco during the fair in
January, 1893, and also among a collection of the works of New York
women authors made the same year (_Utica Morning Herald_, May 4,
1893). A special preface over her name inserted in the first volume of
the Oregon history in the exhibit claimed the authorship of the
volumes.
(These are the words of the preface: "It seems not only just, but
necessary to affix my name to at least four volumes of the History of
the Pacific States, although that does not cover all the work done on
the history by myself. The four volumes referred to comprise the
states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and
Nevada. My name is therefore placed on the backs of these volumes
without displacing that of Mr. Bancroft.")
As to the shares of the various writers in the history proper, we have
the sources of information which have already been mentioned in
speaking of the Native Races, supplemented by very full data left by
Mrs. Victor concerning her part in the work. It is thus possible to
give in a general way the authorship of each volume, barring
fragmentary writing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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