This page allows the many authors of the 2013 Community Novel Project so share, trade and recommend online resources for research and inspiration while writing their chapters. Post your suggestions in the comments or email to Lissa at estaley@tscpl.org for inclusion.
Speak-Easy
We initially shared some discussion about using Speakeasy or Speak Easy or Speak-Easy surrounding the spelling and punctuation of the novel’s title to best convey the double meaning of a unlicensed saloon and the act of sharing a story with someone.
“According to an 1889 newspaper, “Unlicensed saloons in Pennsylvania are known as ‘speak-easies.’” They were so called because of the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public, or when inside it, so as not to alert the police or neighbors. ” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakeasy#Etymology
SpeakEasy is the current preferred title spelling.
Historical background
From George: For history background, check the DVD Boardwalk Empire. The last disc special features are all about prohibition & speak easies, includes a tour of several of these hidden places still in existence today.
From Miranda: I did a little digging and found a really nice source on skyways, written by a librarian at the
Kansas State Historical Society “PROHIBITION IN KANSAS By CLARA FRANCIS, LIBRARIAN, KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY” http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/v2/ch54p1.html
Historical research
Librarian Jeanne Mithen in the Topeka Room on the second floor of the library shares: We have had authors and would be authors come in before to research a period, area of town, institutions, etc.- finding resources is what we do. We have the vertical (subject) files, directories, yearbooks, local histories about neighborhoods, events like floods and tornadoes, schools, buildings, biographies, and institutions, etc. We have copying facilities and of course the local papers on microfilm, so we should be able to help them capture the aura of an era to ground their stories. And, we are open the same hours as the rest of the library.
4 Responses to Historical Research for Speak-Easy
Miranda Ericsson
February 8, 2013
Here’s a good overview of the temperance movement and prohibition in Kansas:
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/prohibition/14523
C R Kennedy
February 12, 2013
Below are three links I used during my research of speakeasies. The last one, a 1958 article from the Milwaukee Journal, is very colorful and entertaining.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-lion-box-speak-easy-door-grill-knocker
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-prohibitionspeakeasy2.html
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19580719&id=fwckAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lyUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5290,3599826
Elaine
February 22, 2013
Remains of speak easy found: http://www.bupipedream.com/archive/2121/remains-of-speakeasy-found-in-cyber-cafe-parking-lot/
Museum of the American Gangster http://museumoftheamericangangster.org
A 20′s inspired rock band http://www.carrienationandthespeakeasy.com
Another article about speakeasies in KS http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/05/09/summoning-spirits-a-brief-history-of-kansas-city-speakeasies
29 steps to a dissertation http://www.gradshare.com/blog/destination_dissertation/2010/08/25/1282782003325.html
Clarinet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarinet with a link from this article to Bass Clarinets, the ones most commonly used in Jazz (see the table at the bottom of the article)
Moondance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondance_(Van_Morrison_song) although I’m wondering if there might be a more 20′s version somewhere.
Lissa
February 25, 2013
I attended a presentation about Topeka history last week and took some brief notes about things happening in the Topeka in the 40′s (unfortunately for our project, that was when the presentation started the historical coverage). Here are my notes in case they inspire you: 1940′s – WPA projects, lake shawnee, tudor-style fire stations, Topeka high, 1st Topeka blvd. bridge, 1933 – Mexican fiesta, Menninger family came to prominense in early 1940s, 1st airport at Billard, Hallmark and Blue Cross started in this area in the early 1940s, the Goodyear plant was initially for government needs,
going into the 1950s – the flood, Highland Park annexed, Brown v Board, Tarc, WIBW first tv station, Blaisdell pool, morning and evening newspapers merged,
I also found this link: http://www.topeka.org/historytopeka.shtml and I would recommend that you call or visit the Topeka Room at the library 580-4510 if you want to know more about anything specific in Topeka history – they have vertical files, local history books, all of the local newspapers on microfilm, etc.