With the information that much if not all of the data used to write
the book, Arming America, was false, I decided to see if any libraries
in Orange County had the book on the shelf. In April, I used the
internet to search and found that 14 libraries in the area, including
some in Orange County, had the book. I decided to see if I could get
one library to remove the book. I chose the Goshen Library, at random,
to see if they would remove the book based on the fact that it had
been discredited. I called the library and on April 30th, 2002 sent
them follow up e-mails. The Library Director was very nice and willing
to base her decision on the facts only.
Removing a book from a library should not be done lightly and
should be done only after careful consideration and then based only on
facts in evidence. Even then, some books that contain some errors or
misrepresentation should not necessary be removed. The recent books by
Goodwin and Ambrose containing plagiarism but are examples of books
that still might be worth keeping. Arming America, however, is a book
that has been as discredited almost as much as any book can be
discredited and is in a class by itself.
The Goshen Library should be be complimented for its willingness to
listen and then make a rational decision based only on the presented
facts including research by others and Emory University's final report
and findings.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE E-MAIL THAT I GOT TODAY, 11/20/02, THAT THE
GOSHEN LIBRARY SENT TO ME AND OTHER REGIONAL LIBRARIES.
Last spring, a patron challenged the inclusion of the book Arming
America: the origins of a national gun culture, by Michael Bellesiles
in our collection. I am sharing a summary of the issues, as several of
your libraries own the book as well.
Although the book had won the Bancroft Prize for history and was
well reviewed for its original hypothesis, the nature of the research
was challenged by James Lindgren of Northwestern University Law
School. The story was reported in the Boston Globe In September 2001,
and Lindgren published an article in the Yale Law Review in April
2002. Emory University, Bellesile's (Emeritus Professor of History)
employer convened an Investigatory Committee charged with determining
if he had fabricated and/or falsified the research. The Committee
reported in July 2002 , finding that he had done so and that he had
"deviated from accepted practices of reporting the results of
research". On October 25, Emory University accepted Professor
Bellesile's resignation.
This seems to me to transcend the allegations of plagiarism against
Goodwin and Ambrose. I am honoring the patron's request and
withdrawing the book from Goshen's collection.
Pauline J. Kehoe, Director
Goshen Public Library and Historical Society
203 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924
845-294-6606