Thankfully, we still have university presses, but they are increasingly strained financially.

I too find it inexplicable that neither author ever contacted me while they were writing their book, if only as a simple matter of “professional courtesy” as you say.

Vikki

Thank you for this excellent review. You cover a lot of detailed information succinctly, and with great clarity, which once again shows your mastery of your subject matter.

It seems to me that there is an issue of professional courtesy at stake here, or, perhaps, even a question of ethics concerning what is, or what is not, appropriate conduct. You are, without doubt, the premier expert on the topic of the state of Jones, having devoted many years of scholarly research, analysis, and writing to the topic–published, peer reviewed and well received writing–so it would appear that, at the very least, as a matter of professional courtesy, the writers of The State of Jones should have contacted you prior to the publication of their book to consult with you on different issues concerning the state of Jones, especially since the authors quote your work as a source! Instead, the book was published, your work was cited without prior knowledge on your part when prior knowledge was necessary, in my opinion, since differences of interpretation are involved, and we now have a public conversation taking place out of necessity. All of this might have been avoided had proper respect been shown in the first place. Hopefully, historical scholarship will not devolve into a form of entertainment, subject only to the rules of conduct (and the lack thereof) characteristic of the entertainment industry, as much of what passes today as journalistic reporting has unfortunately done. Sherree

Yes, I was amazed to see my book, FREE STATE OF JONES, cited as the source for that statement about Stacy Collins. What’s strange is that Tom Knight makes so such statement either.

Vikki