Posted by Michael R. Poll on Jan 3rd 2025
New Year's Message - Old Research Tactics
Michael R. Poll — A Bucket of Thoughts
New Year's Message - Old Research Tactics
On New Year's Eve, I watched an interesting video. This was hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. It was about the 1837 disinterment of President and Gen. George Washington and what they found. It was an interesting video, but while watching it, I was struck by a few things. It took me back to days long gone.
Near the beginning of the video, Mr. Coddington said that his research project was about John Augustine Washington, III, the last Mount Vernon owner. He was the great-grandnephew of George Washington. He said that recently he visited a physical library. That was something he had not done in a long time. Most of his research today is done online or by phoning a librarian to send him some digital copies of things found online. He needed to go to the library this time to look at some letters cataloged but unavailable digitally. The letters were brought out, and he spent several hours searching for what he needed. When he was about to leave, the librarian asked him if he needed anything else. Mr. Coddington asked him if he had any other letters from around that time. The librarian came back with a large pile of uncatalogued letters. In going through them, the letter dealing with the disinterment of George Washington was discovered. He had never heard of any disinterment on this date. It was a major, unexpected, find for him. The way he found the letter was the "major find" in this video for me! He found this new information only because he took the extra steps of going through a large pile of additional papers. He didn't know if the papers would be helpful or a waste of time. He did the work because he knew that’s how real research is done! If he had limited himself to only what was listed in online catalogs, he would not have discovered this information.
When I started researching aspects of the very early Scottish Rite and Louisiana Masonry, there was no internet or digital anything. I had to spend my own money and go places that might have information that I needed. I traveled to the SJ, NMJ, and several Grand Lodges looking for information. I remember conversations and visits with those at the SJ, like John Boettjer, Dick Matthews, Bill Fox, Sr. & Mrs. Inge Baum (yea, I know, "who?"). I went to university libraries and did what I called "shotgun research." This is where I would gather large sections of files and pay the librarian to photocopy everything for me. I would take the copies home and slowly review them over the next few months. Yea, I spent who knows how much on all the copies and travel, with most turning out to be nothing of real interest. But this is exactly what I did when I found what became known as the Bonseigneur Rituals and the files (including the signed Masonic apron) of Matthew McBlain Thomson. TShotgun "shotgun research." I was looking for anything and everything. The only way that it could be done was by being there in person.
To any young researchers who have taken the time to read all this … don't just depend on the internet for your research. DO NOT depend on social media. There is no way around it; if you want to find the "real stuff," get out there and visit the places where information is kept in person. You need to go page by page through the big piles of who knows what. That is all there is to it.
Happy New Year and get to work!
For some of my research adventures, check out Measured Expectations.
Measu
red Expectations
The Challenges of Today's Freemasonry
by Michael R. Poll
Available in Paperback, Large Print Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, and Audiobook (Kindle and Audiobook links below on page)
NOTE: Hardcover can take 2 - 3 weeks for shipping.
This down to Earth book by Michael R. Poll provides suggestions and advice on dealing with Lodge and Scottish Rite issues such as Masonic law, Lodge operation, visitors, poor degrees, meals, officer roles, poor attendance, Masonic philosophy & history, the future of Freemasonry, and so much more. Written in an easy to read style with the goal of providing the new or seasoned Mason with useful information to help make their Lodge experience of greater value.
2018 Book of the Year!
"Masonry in Illinois is moving in a positive direction. To continue that momentum, I encourage each of you to review and then share some of the thoughts and ideas as presented in the Book of the Year for Illinois Masonry, 'Measured Expectations.'
May we be Masons living Masonry each and every day"
~ Greg Clark, Grand Master
Grand Lodge A,F&AM, Illinois