Provanance terms Flashcards
Type of Publication - Private (eg diary)
A document that was not intended for public release is more likely to be blunt and honest. However, they are generally affected by the events of that day, therefore they tend to swing emotionally and are inconsistent. (diary)
Type of Publication - Public
A document or speech, which was intended for the general public, will almost always reflect well on the person releasing it. It is also unlikely to criticise the leading politicians of the day, therefore make such source somewhat biased.
Speech - Private / closed group
A select audience allows the speaker to use strong language and rhetoric to greater effect. The speaker already knows how an audience will respond and so can build on that emotion.
Speech. General public
A public audience usually requires a level of political moderation. This means that any source from such an environment is unlikely to reveal the true agenda of its author, as the words will have been tempered by public opinion.
Author’s of contemporary sources
The authorship of a source is very important. Were they in a position to have detailed knowledge? Do they have the expertise to interpret it?
Date - Contemporary source
A source that is written at the time has the advantages of immediacy and an understanding of the feelings and mindset of the moment.
Date - Modern source
A source written well after the date of the event has the advantage of detailed research and often access to documents and sources unavailable to the authors of contemporary documents.
Hindsight
Hindsight provides the author with the advantage of knowing the outcome. This may mean they choose their evidence to fit their theory. Thus creating a potentially bias source. (intentionally or unintentionally ). Often authors’ will conclude that an event was clearly predictable, when at the time the evidence shows how confusing the situation was.
Churchill writing pre 1945
Churchill, in his speeches and writing, tried to show himself in the best possible light. Therefore historians should be wary of such documents, even those written without the benefit of hindsight. During and after the war Churchill had a ‘hero status’ that he worked hard to maintain. There is little doubt that this myth affected the work many authors for decades.
Churchill writing post 1945
Churchill is reported to have said “History will be kind to me as I intend to write it”, whilst it is unlikely he said these actual words, he said something similar in a House of Commons debate in 1948. It demonstrates his clear intention to write about himself in the best possible light. Therefore historians should be wary of his writings, even those written without the benefit of hindsight. This may also go a long way to explaining why the myth of Churchill being the ‘only man who could have won the war’ prevailed for so long. There is little doubt that this ‘hero status’ affected the work many authors for decades after the war.
Typicality
The fact that a source is in line with the general feeling of the time adds to its relevance.
If a source is not typical it makes it less useful to historians.
Silences
The lack of crucial information is as important in a source as what is included. It often tells the informed reader about the author’s failures or serious oversights.
Tone
Words to use when describing tone could be:- strong, bullying, aggressive,
flattering, fawning, sycophant,
Persuasive, begging
TSA DC TST
TYPE of source - public or private SPEECH? - general public or private group AUTHOR - are they reliable / own agenda CHURCHILL - pre or post 1945 DATE - contemporary or modern/Hindsight TYPICAL - of general feeling or person SILENCES - what is missing TONE - strong, bullying, aggressive, flattering, fawning, sycophant,
